As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump present sharply contrasting policy visions, especially on issues like abortion, climate change, foreign policy, immigration, gun control, and healthcare. These differences reflect their personal beliefs and also the broader ideological split between their respective parties.

Abortion

Kamala Harris, as a Democrat, is a staunch defender of reproductive rights. She has vocally supported federal protections for abortion access, aiming to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade that were dismantled by the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling.

Roe v. Wade was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1973 that legalized abortion nationwide. The court ruled that a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion was protected by the constitutional right to privacy, under the Fourteenth Amendment. The ruling established a framework that allowed states to regulate but not outright ban abortions during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. The decision was controversial and remained a focal point in the ongoing debate about reproductive rights until it was overturned in 2022 by the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which returned the power to regulate abortion laws to individual states.

Harris has backed legislation such as the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify abortion rights into law, ensuring a nationwide guarantee of reproductive freedom. She has also criticized state-level efforts to restrict abortion and vowed to protect women in states with severe abortion bans.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, has taken a much more conservative approach. His judicial appointments, including three Supreme Court justices, played a significant role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Trump supports letting individual states decide abortion policies, which has led to a patchwork of laws across the country, with many Republican-led states enacting near-total bans on abortion. Trump has also endorsed the idea of a federal abortion ban at 15 weeks, aligning with conservative movements aimed at curbing abortion access across the U.S.

Climate Change

On climate issues, Harris and Trump could not be more different. Harris professes tackling climate change a central pillar of her platform. She supports the transition to renewable energy, investment in green jobs, and rejoining international efforts such as the Paris Climate Agreement, from which Trump withdrew during his presidency. Harris campaigns on the ground of holding polluters accountable, aiming for the U.S. to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Trump’s stance on climate change has been dismissive. He has repeatedly questioned the science behind climate change and rolled back environmental regulations during his presidency, favoring policies that promote fossil fuel industries. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017 and has promised to increase oil drilling and coal mining to achieve U.S. energy independence. His approach focuses on deregulation and economic growth through fossil fuel exploitation.

Immigration

Immigration has been a particularly divisive issue between the two candidates. Harris has consistently advocated for a comprehensive immigration reform plan that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and protections for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients. Harris also supports increasing resources for humane border enforcement, aiming for a balanced approach that prioritizes both security and compassion toward migrants.

Trump, by contrast, built much of his political brand on hardline immigration policies. He campaigned on building a border wall with Mexico, which became a central symbol of his administration’s approach to immigration. Trump’s presidency saw the implementation of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, family separations at the border, and increased deportations. He has also promised to reinstate travel bans on countries he deems a security threat.

Gun Control

Kamala Harris has long been an advocate for stricter gun control. She has called for universal background checks, banning assault weapons, and closing loopholes that allow individuals to purchase firearms without thorough vetting. Harris supports implementing stronger federal regulations to address gun violence, which has been on the rise across the U.S.

Trump, however, aligns with the NRA and the gun rights lobby. He opposes most forms of gun control, advocating instead for stronger law enforcement to deal with gun violence. During his presidency, Trump resisted efforts to expand background checks and largely avoided any moves to restrict gun ownership. His base, which includes many Second Amendment advocates, favors a less restrictive approach to gun ownership.

Healthcare

Healthcare is another area where Harris and Trump’s policies diverge dramatically. Harris supports expanding access to healthcare, backing ideas like a public option or even Medicare for All. She has criticized the Republican approach to dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and favors government intervention to ensure that every American has access to affordable healthcare, regardless of income.

Trump’s stance on healthcare has been focused on repealing the ACA, often referred to as Obamacare, which he sees as government overreach. Despite multiple attempts during his presidency, Trump was unable to fully dismantle the ACA. He supports a more market-driven approach to healthcare, arguing that competition and deregulation will drive down costs and improve quality.

Education

Harris has been a strong supporter of investing in public education and reducing student loan debt. She has proposed measures to increase federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), support free community college, and expand access to higher education through financial aid reforms.

Trump, on the other hand, advocates for school choice, supporting charter schools and voucher systems that allow parents to use public funds for private education. His administration reduced regulations on for-profit colleges and sought to roll back federal oversight of student loan forgiveness programs.

Foreign Policy: Harris vs. Trump

Kamala Harris’s foreign policy, under the Biden administration, emphasizes strengthening alliances, especially with NATO and key global partners. The administration has focused on upturning certain policies implemented during the Trump era, with Harris backing efforts to restore America’s leadership on climate change, such as rejoining the Paris Climate Accord.

Donald Trump’s foreign policy, on the other hand, was rooted in his “America First” ideology. Trump’s approach often involved reducing U.S. involvement in global agreements, withdrawing from international organizations, and pushing for more transactional relationships with allies. This was evident in his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, along with his tariffs on European and Chinese goods. Trump’s foreign policy aimed to reduce America’s military engagements abroad and focus on securing trade deals that he believed benefited the U.S. economically.