Coconut trees. Brat green. Dogs in Springfield, Ohio. To those following the presidential election, these references are all too familiar. Memes have penetrated the news coverage of the election, often relating to these references. Because of this, the current presidential campaign has even been termed the “Election of Memes.” But as memes and candidate comments dominate news headlines, many people are left wondering about the actual policies of the major Presidential candidates. So, below are the stated policies of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on significant election issues.
The Economy and Inflation
According to CBS, both candidates propose cutting taxes. However, Trump proposes extending his 2017 tax cuts, whereas Harris doesn’t support its renewal. According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, Trump’s tax plan would result in cuts across the board. But these vary per income, with those earning under $19,600 annually seeing a $320 tax reduction whereas the “top-earning” people would receive a $376,910 tax break. Under the Harris tax plan, the Penn Wharton Budget Model states that 95% of Americans would see less taxes, with the lowest earning people having $2,355 extra after taxes and the highest paying $167,000 more.
According to CBS and the Washington Post, Trump proposes a 10% tariff on all imported goods to end inflation. However, many economists state that to offset the tariff cost, companies will increase the prices of goods. Harris opposes this plan and suggests a federal law against price gouging, per CBS. Despite the many differences, the candidates agree on certain policies, with Trump stating he would remove a federal tax on tips, and Harris matching the pledge. The same Penn Wharton analysis states that both economic plans would increase the federal debt. Harris’s economic plan is predicted to cause an increase of $2 trillion in debt over the next 10 years, while Trump’s economic plan would cause a $4.1 trillion increase.
Immigration
The two major presidential candidates have extremely different views on immigration. According to the BBC, Harris, like President Biden, supported the bipartisan border bill that “would have fast-tracked decisions on asylum cases, limited humanitarian parole, and expanded the authority to deport migrants.” The bill was voted down by congressional Republicans after Trump urged the rejection of the bill. Harris supports reintroducing the bill, even though it would increase funding for the border wall that Harris previously voted against, per NBC. According to the Washington Post, Trump has expressed support for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. He also voiced support for ending birthright citizenship for “the children of immigrants living in the country illegally — a move that legal experts say is unlikely to pass constitutional muster”, according to CBS. Furthermore, he has stated that he would require immigrants to stay in Mexico while their asylum cases are processed. Additionally, Trump expressed interest in suspending refugee admission from the Middle East, a move that could be similar to his travel ban in 2017.
Social Issues
Harris has been a staunch supporter of abortion rights and pledged to restore Roe vs. Wade guarantees if elected by codifying its protections into law. According to CBS, she is also in favor of IVF and “supports the right of women to make their own decisions about their bodies and family-planning.” However, Trump has praised the overturning of the Roe vs. Wade decision. Additionally, the three conservative justices he nominated to the Supreme Court voted to overturn it and leave the matter for states to decide. He hasn’t supported a national standard on abortion but supports states taking a stance on the issue, according to the Washington Post.
On the environment, Harris has expressed support for the Green New Deal and the Paris Climate Agreement per NBC. CBS states she also supports transitioning to a “clean energy economy”. However, she has made it clear that she has no plans to outlaw fracking, a method of gas extraction that is controversial for pollution. In June 2017, President Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement and has been heavily critical of environmental restrictions. He also supported significantly increasing oil and gas production.
Regarding gun control and crime, according to the BBC, Harris “has overseen the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention” and has supported certain gun restrictions, including red-flag laws and universal background checks. However, the Washington Post states that Trump opposes many of these policies. Both candidates have claimed to be gun owners and have branded themselves as tough on crime, with Harris calling herself a “progressive prosecutor.”
Education
Harris declared education a human right and supported a bill providing tuition-free college as a Senator, states NBC. As Vice President, she supported President Biden’s student loan forgiveness bill and she opposes any sort of bans or restrictions on what schools teach on issues including racism and sexuality, according to the Washington Post. On the other hand, Trump has supported dissolving the federal Department of Education and wants to cut federal subsidies for schools that discuss critical race theory. He has also opposed Biden’s student loan forgiveness bill, calling it “unfair.”
Closing
Altogether, when it comes to policy, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could not be more different. From social issues to the economy, both major Presidential candidates have laid out incredibly consequential policies. As American citizens begin to vote, it is the cornerstone of democracy to make an informed decision on who will be the next President based on these policy positions.
