{"id":2338189,"date":"2024-09-07T07:16:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-07T11:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/where-trump-and-harris-stand-on-key-issues-ahead-of-the-debate-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-07T07:19:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-07T11:19:58","slug":"where-trump-and-harris-stand-on-key-issues-ahead-of-the-debate-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/where-trump-and-harris-stand-on-key-issues-ahead-of-the-debate-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Trump and Harris stand on key issues ahead of the debate &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhere-trump-and-harris-stand-on-key-issues-ahead-of-the-debate-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2338189&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u200barticle discusses the upcoming debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, set to take place live on television. This marks their first\u200c head-to-head confrontation. The\u200d debate, moderated by ABC News, will\u200c last 90 minutes and will feature a format that includes muted microphones\u200b after each candidate speaks. <\/p>\n<p>It highlights seven major issues expected\u2063 to\u2064 arise during the debate, based on recent Google\u2062 Search trends\u200c that reflect public interest: Social Security, crime, healthcare, unemployment, the economy, immigration, and abortion. \u200d <\/p>\n<p>On Social Security, both candidates have committed to not cutting benefits but lack\u2062 detailed plans to sustain the program financially. Trump favors a stronger economy to boost funding, while Harris has previously \u2064proposed\u2062 expanding payroll taxes for\u2063 higher earners.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding crime, Trump\u2019s approach has been tough, linking issues to illegal immigration\u200d and criticisms of Democrats, whereas Harris emphasizes a balance between law \u200denforcement and racial\u2064 justice, referring to her \u2064background as a prosecutor.<\/p>\n<p>In healthcare, \u200bTrump has shifted from trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act to promising to reduce costs without specifics, and Harris has\u2064 moved from supporting\u2062 Medicare for All to advocating for expansions of the ACA.<\/p>\n<p>On unemployment, \u200bboth \u200bcandidates have seen \u200bhistorically low rates during their tenures, but Trump\u200c has unfoundedly blamed migrants for job competition.<\/p>\n<p>The economy is a hot topic, with Trump proposing tax cuts\u2063 that may risk increasing inflation, while Harris aims to address specific cost issues in areas \u2064like housing and healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of immigration, \u2062Trump emphasizes a stringent\u200b crackdown, including\u2064 mass deportations, while Harris\u200d has been tasked with addressing the factors leading to increased migration.<\/p>\n<p>The debate is expected to spotlight these critical issues, revealing their differing positions and strategies as the campaign progresses.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Where Trump and Harris stand on top issues likely to come up at debate<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1739132\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> and Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kamala Harris\">Kamala Harris<\/a> will spar head-to-head Tuesday evening for the first time during a live <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3143804\/kamala-harris-accepts-rules-abc-trump-debate-including-muted-mics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"televised debate\">televised debate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The debate, moderated by ABC News, will be 90 minutes of discussion with two commercial breaks and will feature <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3133999\/harris-team-fighting-muted-mics-abc-debate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"muted mics\">muted mics<\/a> after each candidate finishes speaking.<\/p>\n<p>Boundless hot-button issues will come up, but recent Google Search trends on politics and elections offer a window into what topics Americans currently care most about or are the most interested in.<\/p>\n<p>Those top seven topics, according to the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/election-results-2024\/google-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Associated Press <\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/election-results-2024\/google-trends\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>and Google Trends<\/a>, in order from most to least searched, include Social Security, crime, healthcare, unemployment, economy, immigration, and abortion.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s where Harris and Trump stand on each of those subjects heading into their first debate. Harris&rsquo;s record and stated positions on some policies are limited, and her campaign website lacks a policy platform.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This combination of photos shows Vice President Kamala Harris, left, on Aug. 7, 2024, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump on July 31, 2024. (AP Photo\/Charles Rex Arbogast)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social Security<\/h2>\n<p>Both candidates have vowed not to cut benefits that tens of millions of elderly people rely upon. But neither has been forthcoming on details about how to save the vital retirement program from going bankrupt in less than a decade.<\/p>\n<p>Any significant changes would need to be approved by Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has vowed not to raise the retirement age for benefits, which can begin as early as 62. He&rsquo;s suggested a stronger economy, and thus more taxes paid toward Social Security would be his main strategy to ensure its financial solvency. He also supports ending federal tax on recipient benefits, which would move up the program&rsquo;s bankruptcy timeline. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Harris has previously supported expanding the Social Security payroll tax to incomes over $250,000 a year. The current cap is $168,600.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Crime<\/h2>\n<p>Trump took a more tough-on-crime approach as president. He&rsquo;s blamed illegal immigration, defund the police efforts, and racial justice initiatives for violent crime. He&rsquo;s accused the Biden administration and Democrats in cities and states of failing to crack down on violent criminals while shouldering blame for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>Trump pushed through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-seems-unlikely-to-support-reduced-sentences-for-crack-offenders\/\" title=\"Supreme Court Seems Unlikely to Support Reduced Sentences for Crack Offenders\">bipartisan criminal justice reform<\/a> during his term known as the First Step Act, which sought to reduce nonviolent sentences.<\/p>\n<p>Harris has promoted her former prosecutor chops to portray herself as tough on crime but someone who will emphasize racial justice. She&rsquo;s previously described herself as a &ldquo;progressive prosecutor&rdquo; and has promoted the administration&rsquo;s gun violence prevention platform that includes an assault weapons ban.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Healthcare<\/h2>\n<p>Trump no longer runs on repealing the Obama-era Affordable Care Act. Instead, he&rsquo;s offered vague promises to bring down healthcare and prescription drug costs. The GOP platform says he and Republicans will increase transparency, promote competition, and expand access to new plans and drugs. Trump also says he&rsquo;ll support Medicare.<\/p>\n<p>As president, Trump used executive actions to loosen some ACA policies.<\/p>\n<p>In 2019 during her presidential run, then-California Sen. Kamala Harris supported Sen. Bernie Sanders&rsquo;s (I-VT) Medicare for All Act. Her stance has since morphed to support ACA expansions. The Biden White House has called for extending ACA subsidies set to expire next year that he signed into law. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unemployment<\/h2>\n<p>Although the unemployment rate has ticked up slightly to 4.2% in recent months, it remains at a historically low number. Prior to COVID-19 hammering the workforce, the unemployment rate in February 2020 under Trump was 3.5%.<\/p>\n<p>Trump, without evidence, has claimed virtually all new jobs are being taken by migrants illegally entering the country.<\/p>\n<p>Both Trump and Biden saw historically long periods of sub-4% unemployment rate, a number the Federal Reserve has sought to move slightly upward over the past year to fight record inflation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Economy<\/h2>\n<p>Inflation dipped in August to 2.9%, the lowest since March 2021. But affordability remains a major flashpoint of the presidential race despite average wage growth slightly outpacing or matching inflation in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has promised an array of tax cuts and tariffs on imported goods, which economics experts predict would send inflation back up.<\/p>\n<p>Harris has focused on bringing down costs of specific items or sectors rather than across-the-board prices. Those areas include housing, healthcare, childcare, and groceries. One proposal calls for $25,000 in down payment support to first-time homebuyers, which could have the unintended effect of raising housing costs. Harris has also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-sanders-rips-one-of-democrats-proposed-tax-cuts-a-terrible-terrible-message\/\" title=\"Sen. Sanders Rips One Of Democrats\u2019 Proposed Tax Cuts: \u2018A Terrible, Terrible Message\u2019\">proposed tax cuts<\/a> or subsidies, which her campaign has said would be offset by raising taxes on U.S. corporations.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Immigration<\/h2>\n<p>Illegal border crossing encounters have soared under Biden, averaging 2 million per year from 2021 to 2023. Trump averaged around 750,000 per year from 2017-2020.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has vowed a sweeping crackdown. That includes mass deportation, ending catch and release, restoring &ldquo;Remain in Mexico,&rdquo; and eliminating asylum fraud.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In cooperative states, President Trump will deputize the National Guard and local law enforcement to assist with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-heres-what-trump-has-promised-if-he-wins-in-2024\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s Promises If He Wins in 2024: An Overview\">rapidly removing illegal alien gang members<\/a> and criminals,&rdquo; his campaign site states.<\/p>\n<p>Harris was tapped by Biden in 2021 to study the &ldquo;root causes&rdquo; of an influx of migrants from Central America, a position Trump and Republicans have used to pan her as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/larry-oconnor-democrats-kill-their-political-pawns\/\" title=\"Larry O\u2019Connor: Democrats Kill Their Political Pawns\">failed border czar<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She had initially opposed Trump&rsquo;s border wall but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3135644\/senate-border-deal-lankford-harris-wall-flip-flop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"appears to have flipped\">appears to have flipped<\/a> to support some wall construction and has advocated a defeated bipartisan Senate border deal that would&rsquo;ve increased requirements for asylum-seekers and made it easier for Biden to close the border if crossings reached a certain threshold. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Abortion<\/h2>\n<p>Harris supports restoring <em>Roe v. Wade<\/em> and has credited Trump for its demise by installing conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned it.<\/p>\n<p>For his part, Trump proudly takes credit for the ruling but has distanced himself from strict abortion bans in states. However, after initially criticizing the six-week ban in his home state of Florida, Trump said he&rsquo;d voted against a ballot measure that would overturn the restriction. He supports states&rsquo; rights on abortion rather than a federal policy and favors exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1739132\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1739132\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Where Trump and Harris Stand on Key Issues Ahead of the Debate**<\/p>\n<p>Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to face off in a live televised debate for the first time on Tuesday evening. The 90-minute event, moderated by ABC News, will include two commercial breaks and feature muted microphones after each candidate speaks. A variety of pressing issues are expected to be discussed, with recent Google Search trends shedding light on the topics that currently resonate most with Americans. According to data from the Associated Press and Google Trends, the top seven issues\u2014ranked by search interest\u2014are Social Security, crime, healthcare, unemployment, economy, immigration, and abortion. Here\u2019s a look at where both candidates stand on these matters as they prepare for their initial debate.<\/p>\n<p>**Social Security**<br \/>\nBoth candidates have pledged not to cut benefits relied upon by millions of seniors; however, neither has provided specific plans for preventing potential bankruptcy of this crucial retirement program within a decade. Significant reforms would require Congressional approval. Trump has promised not to raise the retirement age for benefits starting as early as 62 and suggests that a stronger economy leading to increased tax contributions will help maintain Social Security&#8217;s viability. He also advocates eliminating federal taxes on benefit recipients&#8217; income which could hasten bankruptcy timelines. Conversely, Harris has previously supported expanding payroll taxes for incomes exceeding $250,000 annually; currently capped at $168,600.<\/p>\n<p>**Crime**<br \/>\nDuring his presidency, Trump adopted a tough-on-crime stance blaming illegal immigration and movements like &#8220;defund the police&#8221; for rising violent crime rates. He holds Democrats accountable for failing to address violent crime while linking them to events like January 6th Capitol attack. His administration enacted bipartisan criminal justice reform through the First Step Act aimed at reducing nonviolent sentences. In contrast, Harris emphasizes her background as a prosecutor while advocating racial justice initiatives; she identifies herself as a \u201cprogressive prosecutor\u201d promoting gun violence prevention measures including an assault weapons ban.<\/p>\n<p>**Healthcare**<br \/>\nTrump no longer campaigns on repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) but instead makes vague promises about lowering healthcare costs and prescription drug prices through increased transparency and competition among providers while supporting Medicare expansion efforts he initiated during his presidency via executive actions that relaxed some ACA regulations.<br \/>\nHarris initially backed Bernie Sanders\u2019 Medicare-for-All proposal during her presidential campaign but has since shifted towards supporting expansions of ACA subsidies which Biden aims to extend beyond their expiration next year.<\/p>\n<p>**Unemployment**<br \/>\nDespite recent slight increases in unemployment rates reaching 4.2%, figures remain historically low compared with pre-COVID levels when it was around 3.5%. Trump claims without evidence that new jobs are primarily being filled by undocumented immigrants despite both him and Biden overseeing extended periods below 4% unemployment\u2014a target recently adjusted upward by Federal Reserve policy amid inflation concerns.<\/p>\n<p>**Economy**<br \/>\nInflation decreased slightly in August down to 2.9%, yet affordability remains critical in this election cycle even though wage growth is keeping pace with inflation trends lately.<br \/>\nTrump proposes various tax cuts alongside tariffs which experts warn could exacerbate inflation again while Harris focuses more specifically on reducing costs related directly affecting consumers such as housing or childcare rather than general price reductions across all sectors\u2014her proposals include financial assistance programs aimed at first-time homebuyers potentially raising housing prices further along with corporate tax adjustments meant offsetting any subsidies offered.<\/p>\n<p>**Immigration**<br \/>\nIllegal border crossings surged under Biden\u2019s administration averaging around two million annually from 2021-2023 compared with approximately750k per year during Trump&#8217;s tenure (2017-2020). In response he promises aggressive enforcement measures including mass deportations alongside reinstating policies like \u201cRemain in Mexico\u201d designed curtail asylum fraud.<br \/>\nHarris was appointed by Biden tasked investigating root causes behind migration surges from Central America\u2014a role criticized politically especially given her previous opposition towards building additional border wall sections now seemingly reversed into support following bipartisan negotiations aimed tightening asylum requirements further complicating future border management strategies overall.<\/p>\n<p>**Abortion**<br \/>\nHarris advocates restoring Roe v Wade crediting its overturning largely due conservative justices appointed under Trump&#8217;s influence who facilitated its demise whereas he acknowledges responsibility yet distances himself from strict state-level bans after initially opposing Florida&#8217;s six-week restriction before voting against measures seeking repeal thereof favoring states\u2019 rights over federal mandates regarding abortion exceptions allowed only under certain circumstances such rape\/incest\/life-threatening situations involved therein respectively<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2338190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Trump-Harris-1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3896,4021,32457,5894,3634],"class_list":["post-2338189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-debate","tag-harris","tag-key-issues","tag-politics","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Trump-Harris-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2338189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2338189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2338189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2338189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}