US Presidential Elections 2024: Where Do Donald Trump, Kamala Harris Stand On Issues That Matter The Most?

Last Updated:October 25, 2024, 18:12 IST

US Election 2024: From economy to abortion, immigration, Middle East and China, both Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris are poles apart on a number of policies. Here's a look at where they stand on key issues

Donald Trump has vowed to reinstate several controversial policies on immigration. Kamala Harris too has called for a comprehensive immigration reform. (Getty Images)

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, who stand on the opposite ends of the vision spectrum, have laid out their plans on economy, reproductive rights, international relations and the future of America in speeches, campaigns and television interviews. But none of them has concrete details.

While a number of Trump’s plans raise legal questions, Harris would need the Democratic control of Congress.

A Gallup poll shows that 41% of US adults are “very concerned” about Trump aligning with people who hold radical views.

What are Kamala Harris’ Key Policy Pledges?

Harris released a detailed policy guide in early September offering voters a sense of what a Harris-Tim Walz administration might look like.

Economy & Taxes: As inflation and high interest continue to hit Americans, the Vice-President has promised to mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers, a tax credit for parents of newborns, tax breaks for entrepreneurs and small business owner, and bans on price gouging at the grocery store. She said her plans would create “an opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and a chance to succeed”. During her acceptance speech after being confirmed as the Democratic candidate, she said she would “pass a middle-class tax cut that will benefit more than 100 million Americans”.

Abortion: Harris has long supported abortion rights. She was the first vice-president to visit an abortion clinic, and toured the country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022 to address state abortion bans. She made abortion as key aspect of her campaign and said she would safeguard reproductive rights nationwide. Harris pledged to protect access to contraception and other fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Border Security and Immigration: She has reiterated her continued support for the cross-party border security bill that would have included hundreds of millions of dollars for border wall construction. The bill would have fast-tracked decisions on asylum cases, limited humanitarian parole, and expanded the authority to deport migrants. She said she would revive the bill and sign it into law. She has also called for a comprehensive immigration reform, including pathways to citizenship for undocumented people, especially those who were brought to the US as children.

Foreign Policy (Ukraine War, Middle Crisis & China): She has spoken in support of western security alliance NATO and denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In her speech at the Democratic convention, she said she warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about Russian aggression five days before the invasion. Her approach towards the Middle East crisis has pretty much been supportive of Israel’s widening war that now includes Iran, Lebanon and Yemen. Like Biden, Harris has called for a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. On China, she has hinted at continuation of Biden’s tough-on-China approach and said she would honor the US’s commitments to Taiwan.

Climate and Energy: Harris defended California’s climate laws and sued oil companies for environmental damage. She also called for climate change policies via a “Green New Deal” during her 2020 presidential campaign — some of which came to fruition under the current administration. During the presidential debate, she said she cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which opened up new leases for fracking companies, in addition to funnelling hundreds of billions of dollars to renewable energy and electric vehicle tax credit and rebate programmes.

What Are Trump’s Views On Key Issues?

Economy & Taxes: Trump has promised to “end inflation and make America affordable again”. Most of his inflation-reduction plan hinges on expanding oil and gas drilling and deregulation. He has promised to deliver lower interest rates, which the president does not control, and he says deporting undocumented immigrants will ease pressure on housing. He has also proposed a number of tax cuts worth trillions, including an extension of his 2017 cuts which mostly helped the wealthy. He also pledges to cut corporate tax rate to 15% from 21% for domestic companies. He has also said he would exempt Social Security benefits, in addition to tips, from income taxes.

Abortion: Trump has boasted of appointing three Supreme Court justices whose votes were decisive in overturning Roe. He has said that ban on abortion in Republican states could have repercussions on his election results. He has vowed as president he would not sign a national abortion ban. He has also said if he wins he would make IVF free for women.

Border Security & Immigration: Trump has vowed to carry out the biggest mass deportation operation in the US history. He has said he would reinstate several controversial policies from his first term, including the Remain in Mexico programme, Title 42 and a travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority nations. He has vowed to rescind programmes that protect undocumented people from deportation, including children, while revoking the legal status of potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the US under the federal temporary protected status programme. He has also suggested that he would end birthright citizenship for the US-born children of undocumented people. He has vowed to seal the border by completing the construction of a wall and increasing enforcement.

Foreign Policy (Ukraine War, Middle East & China): Trump has an isolationist foreign policy and wants the US to disengage itself from the conflicts around the world. He has claimed that he would end the Ukraine war in 24 hours through negotiation with Russia. Despite his history of antisemitic remarks, Trump has portrayed himself as a champion of Israel. Though he says he supports Israel’s mission, he has been critical of its tactics. On China, Trump has said he would take a much stronger stand against China in his second term, but has refrained from saying whether he would send troops if China invaded Taiwan.

Climate and Energy: Trump has said he will continue to roll back environmental regulations, and prioritise clean air and water for Americans. During his first term, he dismantled many environmental policies, including protections for clean air and water as well as regulations aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions. In this campaign he has vowed to expand Arctic drilling and attacked electric cars.

News explainers US Presidential Elections 2024: Where Do Donald Trump, Kamala Harris Stand On Issues That Matter The Most?