'I'm skeptical': MSNBC host can barely hide her contempt as Melania Trump speaks out
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski cast a side-eye at Melania Trump's newly outspoken support for women's rights.
The former first lady passionately defended reproductive rights in her forthcoming eponymous memoir, saying that was a belief she had carried for her entire adult life, but the "Morning Joe" co-host was dubious.
"Mrs. Trump proclaims she is a passionate supporter of a woman's right to control her own body, including the right to abortion," Brzezinski said. "The former first lady reportedly writes, 'It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government.'"
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"The former first lady also reportedly defends the right to abortion later in pregnancy, pointing out those cases are extremely rare and typically done when severe abnormalities would result in stillbirth of the child or the mother's life is at risk," Brzezinski added.
Brzezinski noted that NBC News had not independently confirmed the contents of the memoir, which is due out Tuesday, but she wondered why the Republican nominee's wife hadn't spoken out earlier.
"Kind of wish she might have said something to him, maybe," Brzezinski said.
Joanna Coles, the chief content officer of The Daily Beast, quipped that Melania Trump had asserted control over her own body by moving back to New York City without her husband to oversee their son's college education, and frequent contributor Katty Kay pointed out that her comments belied her apolitical stance.
"It's worth pointing out that one of the most pro-choice groups in the United States at the moment is young men under the age of 40, who have turned out in all those referendums we've had in Kentucky and Kansas and Ohio," Kay said. "They've turned out to defeat restrictions on abortion. I don't know if Melania is talking to those young men, particularly. She may be talking to their wives. She's in line with where the population is, she's just not particularly in line with her husband's politics."
Her comments also stand out because she has been completely absent from the campaign trail, but Brzezinski sneered.
"I'm skeptical," she said, her arms crossed.
"Ivanka also is completely absent from it, too, right?" Coles said. "In that vacuum, the family women around him, you've had people like Laura Loomer move into that vacuum. It's a great way to sell books."
"Yeah," Brzezinski sighed. "Skeptical."
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