Backgrounds 

Kamala Harris

Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California. Her father is a Jamaican immigrant, and her mother was an Indian immigrant. Her parents met while attending UC Berkeley as activists in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. Harris graduated from Howard University, a historically black college, with a degree in political science and economics. Harris pursued law, and ended up becoming the District Attorney of San Francisco and later Attorney General of California. 

Despite labeling herself as a “progressive prosecutor,” some of her critics claim that she contributed to incarceration rates through her anti-truancy and marijuana laws. Harris, however, claims that she was “smart on crime,” with initiatives such as OpenJustice, an overhaul of the criminal justice database that provided data on officers KIA, deaths in custody, arrests etc. and Back On Track, which trained nonviolent first-time offenders with job training and educational opportunities. 

During her time as a Democratic senator of California, Harris supported healthcare reform, such as Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All Act, justice reform, such as a bipartisan bail reform bill and a federal anti-lynching law, and a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and asylum seekers.

Donald Trump

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946. His parents were a real estate developer born to German immigrants, and a Scottish immigrant. Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics, and eventually became the president of his father’s corporation, the Trump Organization. In 1973, the company was charged with violating the Fair Housing Act due to racially segregated housing. Trump became famous for major renovation projects, such as the Commodore Hotel, the Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park, Trump Tower, and the Taj Mahal Casino in Las Vegas. Trump was also known for his reality TV show, The Apprentice, which pitted aspiring businessmen and women against each other for a chance to work at the Trump Organization, as well as his ghostwritten book, The Art of The Deal. 

During the Obama years, Trump, along with others in the so-called “Birther movement,” questioned the legitimacy of Obama’s citizenship and, consequently, his presidency. Trump ran against democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the election of 2016 as a Republican and, despite controversy surrounding comments he made while on the show Access Hollywood, won the presidency. 

Some notable aspects of Trump’s presidency include the building of a Border Wall using emergency funds, a travel ban that targeted certain Muslim-majority countries, an attempt to replace Obamacare, a controversial response to COVID, historic meetings with North Korea, the Abrahamic Accords aimed at stabilizing conflict in the Middle East, a trade war with China, the killing of a high ranking Iranian general, and two impeachments (one of them due to the US Capitol riots on January 6).

Immigration 

Kamala Harris

Harris has stated that she plans to address illegal immigration by bringing back and signing the Border Act of 2024, or S.4361. The bill would introduce $118 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and border security, among other things. The bill would rework the asylum system, give Homeland Security the option to shut down the border when an average of 4,000 migrants per day in a week would be reached, and require a shutdown if the average reaches 5,000 migrants (with exceptions).

The Senate struck down the border bill in May of this year by a vote of 43-50, failing to reach the required 60 votes to pass. Republicans scrutinized the bill, stating that it did not actually solve the problem and instead served as a political stunt that only supported Democratic interests, such as $60 billion aid to Ukraine and $10 billion aid to Gazans ($20 billion is dedicated to border security). Democrats have blamed Trump’s influence in the Republican party as the actual reason for the bill’s failure, citing that illegal immigration remaining unsolved allows Trump to use it as a political platform for his reelection campaign.

Donald Trump

In addition to finishing the controversial border wall, Trump, along with the Republican Party, plans to begin a mass deportation program of undocumented immigrants using local and federal law enforcement, as well as set up a naval blockade to intercept fentanyl entering the US. Trump also stated that he would reinstate his former immigration policies discontinued during the Biden Administration, such as the Remain in Mexico policy, which required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico until their slated US immigration court date, and a travel ban that targeted certain Muslim-majority countries. Trump has said that he will use the Alien Enemies Act, which is one of the Alien and Sedition Acts passed under President John Adams in 1783, to deport suspected cartel members and drug dealers. 

Trump’s handling of illegal immigration during his presidency was steeped in controversy. Democrats criticized policies such as Remain in Mexico, arguing that it and other policies of the Trump Administration like migrant detention centers put migrants in harm’s way, and were inhumane. In an interview with TIME, when asked if he would rule out reintroducing migrant detention camps if reelected, Trump stated that he “wouldn’t rule anything out.”

Abortion

Kamala Harris

Even while running on the Democratic ticket with Biden as Vice President, Harris condemned the overturning of Roe V. Wade, claiming that the decision undermined a woman’s right to control her own body, as well as essential healthcare services. While Harris and the Democrats have made apparent their dissatisfaction with the status quo and their intentions to change it, they have not laid out a specific plan to do so. In addition, many have noted that—while still possible—passing pro-abortion legislation may prove difficult due to a Republican-majority House of Representatives and inadequate number of votes in the Senate. One strategy suggested by Harris would be to eliminate the filibuster in the Senate.

Donald Trump

In regards to abortion, Trump has supported the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe V. Wade; even taking credit for the decision due to his appointment of three conservative justices during his presidency. Contrary to the standard platform of the Republican party, however, Trump has stated that he would not sign a federal abortion ban, maintaining that the issue should remain at a state level, and that he believed in the exceptions of rape, incest and risk to the mother.

Foreign Policy 

Kamala Harris

Harris has largely maintained Biden’s stances on both the Israel-Gaza conflict and the Russo-Ukraine War. Harris has, like Biden, called for a ceasefire. Harris has maintained that Israel has a right to defend itself, and has stated that too many Palestinian have been killed. In regards to the Russo-Ukraine war, Harris has stood with Biden in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and has vocally supported giving aid to the country.

Donald Trump

One of the major themes of Trump’s foreign policy during his presidency was “America First,” which put more emphasis on American interests and security over allies. Trump has scrutinized other countries as being dependent on America, as well as American intervention such as the War on Terror and the Iran Nuclear Deal under Obama.

During his presidency, Trump has pulled out of several treaties and deals with other countries (such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the INF Treaty, UNESCO, the Trans-Pacific Treaty, etc.). In addition, Trump vocally criticized NATO allies, insisting that they increase financial burden on their end and that he would let Russia “do whatever […] he wants” if they do not meet defense spending targets. More recently, Trump has blamed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza on Biden, and claims that if he had been in office those conflicts would have been avoided. Trump points to Biden’s criticized exit from Afghanistan as an example of weakness that gives Russia and Hamas the confidence to go against American interests.

Trump said that he would end the Russo-Ukraine war in “24 hours,” although he did not specify how. In an interview with Israel Hayom, Trump said that he was “the best [US] President in the history of Israel,” and stated that he would take away Iran’s nukes. In addition, Trump called Biden a “Palestinian” that stifles Israel’s ability to fight during the July 27 CNN debate.