Key policy issues to watch in the 2024 US election

Abortion

This is the first election following the Supreme Court’s reversal of the constitutional right to abortion that took place in 2022. The overall outcome of this ruling was influenced by three judges who Trump appointed himself. His position is that every state should decide their own abortion laws. However, he’s had trouble keeping his message consistent.

Trump has recently expressed criticism of Florida’s six-week abortion ban and also stated that he will not sign a national abortion ban if he becomes president while also pushing to make IVF treatment free for women. Initially, he supported abortion rights; however, he changed his view on the matter during his 2016  campaign, stating that every state should decide on their own abortion laws.

He has also since advocated a federal ban on abortions after 20 weeks, with the exception of cases of rape, incest, and the health of the mother. He cautioned any Republicans who fail to include these exceptions will see their political future at risk.

Lastly, he opposes the use of taxpayers’ money be used for abortions.

Climate

As president, Trump rolled back many environmental protections, including limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and vehicles and safeguards for federal waterways.

He is now promising to reduce regulations again, especially to support the American car industry. He consistently criticises electric vehicles and vows to overturn Biden’s targets that encourage cleaner cars since he believes they shouldn’t be pushed on consumers.

Trump has also opposed offshore wind turbines, promising to halt this renewable energy source should he be elected again. Aiming to make US energy the cheapest in the world and claiming he could slash rates in half within a year of coming to office, his policy motto remains “Drill, Baby, Drill.”

His ideas also call for speedy approval of natural gas pipelines, more public-area oil exploration, and a resolution to leave the Paris Climate Accords.

Crime

Trump has committed to dismantling drug cartels, eradicating gang violence, and revitalising cities run by Democrats that he claims are suffering from high crime rates. His Republican platform aims to restore safety in neighbourhoods by increasing funding for police departments and shielding officers from what he describes as “frivolous lawsuits.”

That said, critics point out inconsistencies in his law-and-order message, especially his intention to pardon many of those convicted for the January 6th riots. They also note that FBO statistics show a 6% drop in violent crime and a 13% decrease in murders in 2023, which raises doubts about the necessity of his proposed measures.

Trump adopted a tough-on-crimes stance during his presidency while supporting significant criminal justice reform. In response to the 2020 racial justice protests that followed the police killings of Black Americans, he strongly condemned the demonstrators, famously tweeting, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

On the campaign trail, he stresses a hardline approach to crime, blaming Biden’s policies for failing to tackle the issues and claiming that the Justice Department is politically targeting him.

Economy

Voters’ main concerns are high food and housing prices, which weigh more heavily than the present robust economic development and low unemployment rates.

Regarding economic concerns, Trump still leads surveys over his Democratic competitors even though inflation has declined dramatically from its highest point in 2022. A prominent promise on his campaign website is to “end inflation and make America affordable again.”

While the president has limited ability to influence prices directly, Trump has committed to boosting US energy production by allowing oil drilling in areas like the Arctic wilderness. He claims this would help lower costs, although analysts are doubtful about his strategy.

He also asserts that he can reduce housing costs by stopping some undocumented immigrants from getting mortgages, deporting others, and initiating a home-building program on federal land.

Federal government

The former president is attempting to distance himself from “Project 2025,” even though he has strong ties to many of its key figures. Still, he has committed to a major overhaul of the federal bureaucracy, which he claims obstructed his agenda during his first term, asserting, “I will totally obliterate the deep state.”

He intends to reinstate the Schedule F order, which would remove civil service protections, enabling him to dismiss what he refers to as “rogue bureaucrats,” including those who “weaponise our justice system” and the “warmongers and America-Last globalists” within the Deep State, Pentagon, and State Department.

Trump has also pledged to abolish the Education Department and diminish the autonomy of regulatory bodies like the Federal Communications Commission.

To tackle government waste and reduce red tape, he promises to eliminate at least ten federal regulations for every new one introduced.

Healthcare

Trump has supported healthcare changes but hasn’t yet presented a particular plan.

His presidential aim was to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by stressing its coverage policies and incentives. Supporting legal challenges to the law, he essentially removed the penalty for lack of insurance and loosened key ACA regulations through executive actions.

In November 2023, he reiterated his calls to replace the ACA, criticising Republicans who opposed its termination and insisting he wouldn’t “give up.”

Recently, he has softened his approach, stating that he simply wants to improve the ACA, although his campaign has yet to detail how this would be achieved.

Among his 20 priorities, Trump assures that he will not cut Medicare or the federal health insurance program for older Americans. He has also proposed taxpayer-funded fertility treatments; however, it’s still uncertain whether this costly proposal has the backing of Republicans in Congress.

Immigration

Trump has promised to start the biggest domestic deportation campaign in American history if he becomes president. Policies from his first administration, notably the “Remain in Mexico” program and Title 42, which restricts migrant admission on public health grounds, are only some he wants to bring back.

Furthermore, he plans to revive and expand the travel ban that initially affected seven Muslim-majority countries. In response to the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, he suggested implementing “ideological screening” for immigrants to filter out those he labels as “dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots, and maniacs.”

He also wants to deport those individuals who are in the US legally but have “jihadist sympathies.” He also wants to revoke the birthright citizenship for those American children born to illegal immigrants.

Even though illegal border crossing has fallen this election year after reaching an all-time high during the previous year, that hasn’t stopped Trump from promising to finish the wall and strengthen border security if he makes it back to the White House.

Experts have since warned that such mass deportation would face significant legal and logistical difficulties, which in turn could delay economic development.

Israel/Gaza

Former president Trump has made it clear that he is a strong supporter of Israel, especially in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. He claims that the recent October 7th attack wouldn’t have happened if he was still in office.

Although he supports Israel’s military activities, he has also questioned some of its strategies and demanded a quick end to the conflict. With his clear pro-Israel stance, he hasn’t yet offered a particular peace proposal or showed support for Palestinian issues.

NATO/Ukraine

The Republican nominee favours an isolationist foreign policy approach, emphasising the need for the United States to withdraw from conflicts in other parts of the world. He has also claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours” through negotiations with Russia, while Democrats say that doing so would only encourage Vladimir Putin.

Despite his bold claims, Trump hasn’t specified what compromises he thinks each side should agree to, while the Kremlin has rejected the notion of a quick solution.

Moreover, the candidate has taken aim at US military assistance to Ukraine, vowing to cut off financial support, which sharply contrasts with the $60.84 billion that President Biden secured on April 20th after a US House of Representatives vote.

He has also shown a readiness to reevaluate NATO’s role and questioned the commitment of member nations that don’t meet the 2% GDP defence spending goal.

His comments have sparked worries, notably when he indicated that he wouldn’t defend countries that fall short of this target and might even encourage Russia to take action against them.

Trade

When Trump was president, he ended the era of US free trade by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports, a policy that has persisted and expanded under Joe Biden. Currently, he has suggested new tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on most foreign goods, with a notable 60% tariff specifically targeting Chinese imports.

He believes this strategy will enhance domestic manufacturing and decrease outsourcing, although some economists caution that it might result in higher consumer prices.

In his debate with Kamala Harris, he pointed out that the tariffs he implemented on Chinese goods are still in effect under the current administration. He envisions a significant increase in tariffs on nearly all imports, asserting that they will help finance tax cuts, lower the deficit, and potentially support childcare programs.

Trump has also proposed that tariffs on Chinese goods could soar to as much as 100% and is seeking congressional approval to allow the president to impose mutual tariffs on any country that imposes tariffs on the US, targeting to prevent Chinese corporations from controlling US infrastructure in key industries such as energy and technology.

Taxes

Trump has laid out an ambitious tax cut plan, starting with a continuation of the significant cuts he made in 2017 that are scheduled to expire next year. The reform was created to simplify the tax code while promoting growth and investment. The largest cut went to businesses and wealthy individuals, which Democrats want to reverse.

He also proposes reducing the corporate tax rate for American manufacturers to as low as 15%.

Moreover, Trump wants to remove taxes on tipped income and Social Security payroll tax, which would appeal to pensioners but could compromise the fund’s long-term survival.

He further pledges to undo Biden’s tax hikes and remove tax advantages for electric cars and renewable energy.

Critics caution that Trump’s policy proposals could lead to notable budget deficits without generating the economic growth and development required to offset the debt.

Abortion

Kamala Harris has been a strong advocate for women’s right to choose abortion, making reproductive rights a key focus of her campaign. She promised at an Atlanta event for her 2024 candidacy, “When Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president of the United States, I will sign it into law.”

She also reaffirmed this during her debate with Donald Trump, and her policy proposal reflects this as she said she would “never allow a national abortion ban to become law.”

Harris made history as the first vice president to visit an abortion clinic and has actively opposed state bans following the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the constitutional right to abortion in 2022.

She frames the abortion debate as one of personal freedom and has called on Congress to guarantee abortion access at the federal level, rights that had been in place for nearly 50 years.

While criticising Republican-led bans, she promises to block any potential nationwide ban that might emerge from a future GOP-controlled Congress. Beyond advocating for federal legislation, she has supported measures to protect women travelling for abortions and to restrict how law enforcement handles medical records.

Climate

While Harris was a prosecutor, she defended California’s climate laws and took legal action against oil firms for environmental harm. During her 2020 presidential campaign, she promoted a “Green New Deal” aimed at shifting the US to renewable energy.

While she initially expressed strong support to ban fracking during a 2019 CNN town hall, she later highlighted during the presidential debate that she cast her tie-breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed new fracking leases while allocating nearly $375 billion for renewable energy and electric vehicle tax credit and rebate programs.

As vice president, Harris has adopted a more moderate approach, focusing on implementing the Biden administration’s climate initiatives. These include the establishment of a national “Climate Corps” to engage young people in conservation efforts.

However, concerns remain about whether the US will meet Biden’s goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Crime

Harris started her legal career by prosecuting child abusers and sex traffickers before taking on the role of district attorney in San Francisco and later serving as California’s attorney general.

During her time in office, she managed to boost conviction rates for violent crimes, which brought her both recognition and criticism. Progressives sometimes referred to her as “a cop,” while conservatives claimed she was too lenient on crime.

In her acceptance speech at the DNC, Harris emphasised her opponent’s legal challenges,  reinforcing her identity as a former prosecutor.

Her supporters highlight her work on environmental justice, foreclosure relief, and criminal justice reform during her tenure in California.

Economy

As vice president under President Biden, Harris has executed noteworthy economic initiatives, also known as “Bidenomics,” that include notable infrastructure and renewable energy spending.

Many Americans still suffer from inflation and excessive interest rates that could jeopardise their financial situation even while job creation and robust economic expansion have taken place.

In her convention acceptance speech, Harris discussed her economic programs, pledging to help first-time homebuyers with mortgages, a tax credit for new parents, and methods to stop price gouging in food shops to potentially lower inflation.

She emphasised her view of creating “an opportunity economy where everyone has a chance to compete and succeed.” She also reiterated in her first interview as the Democratic nominee with CNN that one of her main objectives is to help and strengthen the middle class, a theme she has constantly underlined during her campaign.

Federal government

Harris, like President Biden, has actively opposed “Project 2025,” a conservative plan designed to reshape the federal government to better accommodate right-wing ideas if Trump were to return to the presidency.

She is also part of the administration that has already taken steps to protect federal staff members from likely mass firings. If she becomes president, she aims to improve those steps further.

The Office of Personnel Management introduced new regulations in April that stop federal workers from being reclassified as political appointees or at-will employees, making it harder to terminate their positions.

The mentioned regulation addresses concerns about Schedule F, a 2020 executive order from Trump that reclassified tens of thousands of federal employees, making it easier to dismiss them. These actions demonstrate the administration’s dedication to preserving the integrity of the civil service.

Healthcare

Earlier in her career, Harris held strong views about healthcare, pushing for the growth of publicly funded healthcare programmes for the elderly, disabled young people, and low-income individuals.

During her July 25th campaign video, Harris highlighted her dedication to making healthcare affordable for everyone. Throughout her time as senator and vice president, she has worked to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against Republican repeal attempts and has supported extending the expanded ACA subsidies, which are set to expire after 2025.

She also expressed on the campaign trail a dedication to paying off billions in medical debt for Americans. However, the specifics of this program are yet unknown.

Initially, she supported Medicare-for-All, a plan to create a publicly funded healthcare system, but she later changed her mind.

Her campaign also made it clear that if she were to become president, she wouldn’t pursue a single-payer system.

During the Biden administration, notable advancements in healthcare reforms have occurred, including cutting prescription drug costs, capping insulin pricing at $35, letting Medicare negotiate drug prices, and restricting out-of-pocket spending for Medicare drug coverage.

Immigration

Harris’s position on border policy has evolved to a more moderate stance during her current campaign. She has emphasised her support for a hardline bipartisan border security agreement that would’ve included substantial funding for border wall construction. Congressional Republicans later blocked this at Trump’s persuasion.

The deal would’ve limited humanitarian parole, accelerated asylum cases, and expanded deportation authorities. Declaring that there should be repercussions for illegal border crossings, Harris plans to resurrect this legislation and implement it into law, departing from her more lenient past views.

As vice president, Harris has concentrated on tackling the root cause of migration from Central America. This challenge saw unprecedented numbers of migrants at the southern border during the Biden administration. Those numbers have since decreased in recent months.

She also played a key role in securing $3 billion in private investment aimed at enhancing conditions in migrants’ home countries.

Harris has since positioned herself as a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, guiding illegal immigrants, especially those who entered as children, towards the path to citizenship.

Israel/Gaza

Harris has consistently backed a two-state solution, which would establish Israel alongside an independent Palestinian state, and has also called for an end to the conflict in Gaza.

In her acceptance speech at the convention, she pledged to ensure Israel’s security while also advocating for the release of hostages and the alleviation of suffering in Gaza, stressing the rights of the Palestinian people to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination. She emphasised these issues during her July discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While she hasn’t endorsed an arms embargo on Israel, she has consistently reaffirmed her support for Israel to defend itself. Even during her debate with Trump, she reiterated her long-standing commitment to Israel and its people.

She has also stated that she would follow Biden’s approach and focus greatly on ensuring a ceasefire deal.

NATO/Ukraine

As vice president, she has met with 150 world leaders and travelled to 21 countries. A significant moment was her attendance at the Munich Security Conference last year, where she spoke in favour of NATO and criticised isolationism and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Harris has also pledged to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

She disclosed during her speech at the Democratic convention that she had warned President Volodymyr Zelensky just five days before it happened and assisted in rallying a global response once the war began.

While she has praised President Biden for his attempts to rebuild strained alliances that fell apart during the Trump administration, particularly with NATO, she has not stated how her approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine varies from his, emphasising the need to maintain US allies and criticising Putin’s actions as brutal.

Since the war began, the Biden administration has devoted significant resources to Ukraine, offering tens of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid, including a recent $61 billion package expected to span the rest of the year.

Trade

Since taking office, the Biden-Harris administration has prioritised enhancing trade relationships with allies in Europe, Asia, and North America. They have also kept tariffs on China that were established during the Trump era while implementing new strategies, including a ban on the export of advanced computer chips to China and incentives to support US industries.

In May, the administration raised tariffs on imported electric vehicles, steel, and aluminium from China to safeguard American interests further.

Taxes

In 2017, Harris backed progressive tax initiatives, including co-sponsoring a bill with Bernie Sanders to expand Social Security for seniors by raising the investment tax rate. As a presidential candidate in 2019, she pushed for a corporate tax of 25%, which was higher than President Biden’s proposed increase of 28%.

During her acceptance speech as the Democratic nominee, she pledged to implement a middle-class tax cut that would benefit over 100 million Americans; however, the details surrounding this tax cut were initially vague.

Her campaign later clarified that restoring the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit would enable more Americans to retail a larger portion of their income. Restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit would offer families with newborns a $6,000 tax reduction.

Harris wants to permanently create a tax credit of up to $3,600 per child and increase tax benefits available to first-time homebuyers. She also wants to build 3 million more homes over the next four years, remove tip taxes, and provide businesses with tax benefits.

She stated she wouldn’t hike the capital gains tax as much as Biden suggested for investors with an income of more than $1 million, even though she favours boosting the corporate tax rate to 28% and the corporate minimum tax to 21%.