Presidential Candidates and Where They Stand On Key Issues
(Photos courtesy of Harris’ and Trumps’ verified Instagram accounts, @kamalaharris and @realdonaldtrump)
Kerry Kadel | Editor-in-Chief
An important note regarding the topic of the article:
This article is to allow students’ or their respective political ideals, morals, and beliefs knowledge as to what each political candidate of the 2024 Presidential Election believes in, and is calling for in terms of their goals and promises in the event that they become America’s new president. Flyer News is an unbiased news source for students of all political agendas to gain knowledge and/or be aware of the events and/or topics within America and proximity news regarding Ohio. We are pulling sources from both sides of the political spectrum as centrist news sources have dwindled in the recent years.
Kamala Harris, Democratic Party
Climate Change
Back in her 2019 presidential bid, Harris stated that she was all for the Green New Deal, which calls for public policy against climate change, while targeting social aims such as creating jobs, economic growth, and reducing economic inequality. Harris also supports a ban on fracking and offshore drilling. She believes in suing big companies such as tobacco businesses that are the center for pollution, stating that they are “causing harm and death in communities”. Harris is also all for electrical vehicles, to which she was the tie-breaking vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides grants towards government subsidies for electric cars and other clean-energy efficiencies for home projects.
Crime and Weapons
As a former district attorney and state attorney general, Harris’ career began in dealing with crime and justice. However, she has faced criticism from the left side on her stance about truancy and marijuana use, and the right for her grounds on not seeking the death penalty after the death of a police officer. Harris sees herself as a “progressive prosecutor” and has been vocal about police reform and gun violence prevention as VP in the efforts to lower crime rates. In the Sept. 10 debate, Harris stated that she owns a gun herself, explaining, “I own a gun for probably the reason a lot of people do–for personal safety.” The Biden administration implemented the White House Office of Gun and Violence Prevention, which Harris oversees, that centers on stricter gun laws. Harris herself declares that she is in favor of the Second Amendment, but if she were to be elected, she would “ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks, and support red flag laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.” (CBS News) Red flag law, named after the idiom “red flag” which alludes to a warning sign, is a gun law which permits state courts to order a temporary removal of firearms from individuals found to be at risk of harming themselves or others. Police officers and family members would be the ones to petition a judge for the order of firearm confiscation. (The Guardian)
Abortion Rights
Harris strongly rejects bans on abortions, and has plans to reinstate Roe v. Wade into national law. Harris is a leading voice on reproductive rights as it has been the center of her 2024 presidential campaign. The Supreme Court sided with the Biden-Harris administration in preventing the abortion pill mifepristone from being difficult to access. Harris believe in no restrictions/exceptions when it comes to abortion (ie. rape, incest, and threat to life/health of mother).
Taxes and Economy
→ Harris grew up in the middle class “as a daughter of a working mom”, as stated from her website. Her website also states that she will “bring down costs and increase economic security for Americans”. Harris wants to raise taxes on corporations and proposed expanding tax deductions for small businesses. She hasn’t spoken about her plan for student loan forgiveness if she is to be elected, but Harris has not elaborated on future plans if she is to win the election.
Foreign Policy
China
Harris has strongly supported the Biden administration’s view of China “as a threat to peace and stability” within the Indo-Pacific region. She also backs the views from the administration about severely restricting exports to China of advanced semiconductors (iPhones, laptops, and anything that can build an electrical current) and the equipment in order to construct them in fear that Beijing could use them to build new tech, enhance military forces and spying. Although, it is unclear if Harris is endorsing Biden’s view that America would defend Taiwan if they were to be attacked by China.
Israel
Harris has suggested that U.S. military aid for Israel would continue if she is to win. She has spoken on the suffering of Palestine, but hasn’t spoken about whether there would be weapon transfers to Israel. “Let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,” she declared, accepting the Democratic nomination. She pushes for de-escalation, a cease-fire that would include the return of hostages, and promoting a two-state solution.
Immigration
She opposes family separation and calls for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for green cards. As senator, she voted against Trump’s border wall plan. The Biden White House backed a bipartisan bill that allows asylum-seekers to enter the country for approval, but gives the president the power to turn away new arrivals if migration levels hit specific triggers. Harris’ campaign team has declared that her views on border crossings are the same as the Biden administration’s: that “unauthorized border crossings are illegal”.
Donald Trump, Republican Party
Climate Change
Trump opposes the Green New Deal, and if elected, has promised to drill for fossil fuels and remove the red tape of natural gas projects. He believes that man-made pollutants are not the sole cause for climate change, but has rejected climate science and has called climate change a “hoax”. Trump has promised to roll back Biden’s electric vehicle policies, stating that “[…] normal Americans can’t afford to use one, nor do they even want to,” According to his website, Trump will “unleash the production of domestic energy resources, reduce the soaring price of gasoline, diesel and natural gas, promote energy security for our friends around the world,”
Crime and Weapons
The Trump administration approved the 2018 First Step Act, which Harris also vouched for, as it reduces prison sentences for inmates. Trump also called for red flag laws and stronger background checks in 2019, however he received a lot of backlash from the NRA for this call and the plans were ultimately abandoned. Trump states that he will “revitalize police departments and reclaim safety, dignity, and peace for law-abiding Americans. His campaign team stated that, “Trump ‘believes that every American has a God-given right to protect themselves and their family and has proven through his actions that he will defend law-abiding gun owners,’”
Abortion Rights
Calling himself “the most pro-life president”, Trump has bounced back and forth over the years on an abortion policy. His latest position on abortion rights is that policies should be set by the states. Although his running mate J.D. Vance declared that Trump would have a national ban on abortion, the former President has denied talking it over with Vance–though nothing has been clarified. Trump has called for IVF treatments to be paid by the government or private insurers. On a ban for the weeks that an abortion procedure should take place, Trump called the six weeks ban too strict, but a day later backed off the stance, allowing the six week measures to remain. Again, he believes that this policy is up to the states to decide. Trump does believe in exceptions for abortion procedures that occur in the event of rape, incest, and life of the mother. He is opposed to easy access to the medical abortion drug mifepristone and taxpayers funds going towards abortion procedures.
Taxes and Economy
As the biggest drivers of national debt, Trump has promised to protect Social Security and Medicare, believing that no Republican should vote to “cut a single penny” from the two. In terms of taxes for major corporations that make their products within America, Trump states he wants to slash the tax rates for them. He has opposed student loan debt cancellation, but has backed up income-driven repayment plans. In hopes of lowering inflation, Trump believes in increasing oil production so that gas prices may be significantly lower. He has also proposed to extend his 2017 tax cut law that he signed during his presidency, which will expire in 2025.
Foreign Policy
China
Trump wants to raise higher tariffs for China, saying that U.S. workers “have suffered under unfair trade practices benefitting China”. He would at least impose 60% for Chinese goods. In order to not rely so much on China, Trump has plans to focus more so on a four-year plan that would boost manufacturing in America. Although when asked who was the greatest threat to America, he said the problem was coming from inside the country, declaring that the single biggest threat was U.S. politicians.
Israel
Trump has not specifically stated as to what his policies are when it comes to aiding the military in Israel, but that aiding troops will continue.
Immigration
Trump will take down the Biden-Harris administration’s border security laws, as his concerns for allowing immigrants in are those with criminal offenses. In Sept. 2023, he stated that if he is to be elected, that he will “implement the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in American history”, but he could be facing legal challenges when it comes to placing immigrants within camps in preparation for deportation. Trump believes that he could restore migrant families that have been separated in light of deportation. Immigration has been the center of Trump’s campaign ever since he announced his running for presidential election back in 2015.
Sources
Allen, J., Bowman, et al. (2024, May 15). Harris and Biden’s stances on key issues: Abortion, immigration, Israel and more. NBC News; NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/harris-trump-stance-issues-policies-president-race-rcna150570.
A New Way Forward – Kamala Harris for President: Official Campaign Website. (2024, September 9). Kamala Harris for President: Official Campaign Website. https://kamalaharris.com/issues/.
Clayton, A. (2024, March 23). What are red flag laws, and how do they work? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/23/red-flag-laws-gun-control.
FOX. (2024, October 25). Where former President Donald Trump stands on key issues. FOX 5 DC. https://www.fox5dc.com/news/election-day-2024-vote-donald-trump-economy-abortion-immigration-housing.
Linton, C. (2024, October 23). Trump and Harris’ policy plans and views on gun control for the 2024 election. Cbsnews.com; CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-harris-guns-2024/.
Trump, D. (2024). Issues | Donald J. Trump For President 2024. Www.donaldjtrump.com. https://www.donaldjtrump.com/issues.
Washington Post staff. (2024, September 10). Kamala Harris’s policy positions, where she stands on key issues. Washington Post; The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/kamala-harris-policy-positions/.