The 2024 U.S. presidential election presents a clear choice between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, each promoting contrasting visions for America’s future. Harris emphasizes social equity, climate-focused reforms, and multilateral diplomacy, supporting expanded social programs, stronger alliances like NATO, and climate action. Trump’s approach, focused on “America First,” favors economic self-sufficiency, conservative social policies, and a transactional stance in foreign affairs. While Harris seeks cooperation with allies and government-driven reforms, Trump prioritizes U.S. interests, border security, and a more isolationist approach, reflecting fundamentally different paths for both domestic and international policies.
Economic Policies
Harris’s economic focus is on protecting and expanding the middle class. She advocates for investments in education, technology, and green energy to create new jobs and sustain long-term economic growth. Her plans include extending tax credits for low-income families and raising the minimum wage, aiming to make the economy more inclusive.
In contrast, Trump is focused on reducing foreign economic influence, particularly from China, proposing a range of tariffs (some as high as 60%) on imported goods. He aims to make the U.S. more economically self-sufficient, phasing out imports from China and prohibiting U.S. investments in Chinese companies. Trump also proposes a tax cut for all income levels and aims to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, appealing to a broad demographic that includes seniors and working families.
Immigration Policies
Harris takes a progressive stance on immigration, seeking to streamline the legal immigration process and provide pathways to citizenship for undocumented individuals, especially those brought to the U.S. as children (DACA recipients). Her approach aims to balance border security with humane policies that support immigrant rights and integration into society.
Trump, on the other hand, promises stricter immigration controls, including resuming and expanding border wall construction. He has proposed ending work permits for undocumented immigrants, creating restrictions on public benefits, and using the Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations for individuals associated with gang violence. Additionally, Trump plans to label drug cartels as terrorist organizations to justify more aggressive action against them.
Climate and Energy
Harris prioritizes climate action with a $500 billion investment plan to advance green infrastructure, renewable energy, and technological innovation. This plan is intended not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to stimulate job growth in the green sector, positioning the U.S. as a global leader in combating climate change. Harris opposes fracking bans but seeks to reduce fossil fuel reliance over time.
Trump’s environmental policy emphasizes energy independence. He supports increased domestic production of oil and natural gas, emphasizing economic growth over environmental regulation. His platform proposes balancing conservation with the continued use of fossil fuels, advocating for fewer restrictions on businesses operating in traditional energy sectors.
Social Policies and Civil Rights
Harris is a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and supports the passage of the Equality Act, which would enshrine protections against discrimination in housing, healthcare, and employment. She also supports women’s reproductive rights and aims to codify these rights at the federal level.
Trump’s platform includes a conservative stance on gender and family policies. He opposes federal funding for gender-transition surgeries and seeks to limit transgender participation in women’s sports. Additionally, Trump has expressed intentions to reverse certain Title IX protections related to gender identity in educational institutions. On reproductive rights, Trump is aligned with conservative principles, advocating for more restrictions on abortion access
Foreign Policy
Harris advocates for strengthening alliances, maintaining support for NATO, and addressing global challenges through diplomacy. Her foreign policy emphasizes the importance of multilateral cooperation and responsible global leadership, particularly in areas of climate action and human rights.
Trump, in contrast, promotes a more isolationist approach. He prioritizes policies that put “America First,” advocating for a reduction in foreign aid and support for international institutions. His focus is on curbing Chinese influence globally and using aggressive trade policies to ensure U.S. dominance in economic matters. Trump’s plan to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations reflects his hardline stance on both immigration and international crime.
Healthcare
Harris supports expanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and lowering prescription drug prices by negotiating directly with pharmaceutical companies. Her vision includes a public healthcare option that enables Americans to buy into Medicare without fully eliminating private insurance. This approach balances public and private sector involvement in healthcare, aiming to provide coverage options while preserving choice.
In contrast, Trump proposes to reduce federal involvement in healthcare and promote private insurance plans. His focus is on fostering market-driven healthcare solutions, reducing regulation, and increasing transparency for medical costs. Trump has previously pushed for alternatives to the ACA, aiming to limit government spending on healthcare and giving states more control over Medicaid.
Education
Harris proposes significant investments in public education, aiming to close funding gaps in schools, particularly in underfunded communities. She advocates for tuition-free community college, student debt relief for low- to middle-income families, and increased pay for teachers. Harris also supports increasing funding for programs that address educational inequality, ensuring that schools have the resources to offer a quality education to all students.
Trump’s education platform promotes school choice and vouchers, which allow families to use public funds for private and charter schools. He aims to reduce federal oversight, giving states more control over education policy, including curriculum decisions. His administration’s previous support for expanding charter schools reflects his preference for alternatives to the traditional public school model.
Housing and Urban Development
Harris’s housing platform addresses the affordability crisis by investing in affordable housing, expanding rental assistance, and preventing housing discrimination. She supports policies aimed at reducing homelessness and increasing funding for low-income housing development.
Trump’s housing policies are geared toward reducing regulations that he argues hinder construction and drive up housing costs. He advocates for policies that support private development and homeownership and has opposed certain federal mandates on local zoning, arguing that they interfere with local autonomy in housing development.
Policies towards West Asia
Both candidates agree on the need to support Israel but differ significantly on broader regional strategies. Trump’s approach leans towards unconditional support for Israel with a strong military posture against Iran and its proxies, while Harris proposes a diplomatic approach that combines security with humanitarian considerations, aiming for long-term stability. These contrasting views reflect their differing approaches to the complexities of West Asian geopolitics, with Trump focusing on military strength and deterrence, and Harris on a multi-faceted diplomatic and humanitarian approach to mitigate conflict and reduce tensions in the region.
Policies towards EU
Harris would maintain the close EU-U.S. relationship, focusing on multilateral cooperation in areas like climate, security, and technology. She supports initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act, which aligns with the EU’s green goals, and she favors easing tariffs on EU goods to promote trade harmony. Harris views NATO as crucial for transatlantic security, emphasizing unity to address issues like Russian aggression. Her approach values the EU as a strategic partner in confronting global challenges, especially in supporting Ukraine and managing China’s influence.
Trump approaches the EU with a “America First” strategy, aiming to reduce what he perceives as trade imbalances by potentially reintroducing tariffs on European goods. He stresses that NATO allies should increase their defense spending, even threatening to reduce U.S. involvement if allies fall short. Trump is also skeptical of EU policies that, in his view, limit U.S. competitiveness, and prefers bilateral deals with individual countries over engaging with the EU as a whole. His approach is rooted in protecting U.S. industries and maintaining economic leverage over European partners.
As Election Day arrives in the U.S., the choice between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump represents a clear crossroads for the nation’s future direction. We have to wait a little more to know the America’s new president and its future.
