Everything seems to oppose the two candidates in the American presidential election on November 5. But what are the political issues of this campaign described as historic?
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American economy
After three years of high inflation, purchasing power is a major concern for many Americans.
Donald Trump, who as president reduced the tax rate on the richest and businesses, promised customs duties of “more than 10%” on all imports, which will allow him to finance a large tax cut .
The Republican candidate also pledged to make the United States “the world capital of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.”
For her part, Democrat Kamala Harris presents herself as the candidate of the middle classes and wants to create an “economy of possibilities”. If she took up certain commitments from Joe Biden on the taxation of large fortunes, she tempered them.
It promises a birth tax credit, assistance with property ownership and a boost for business creation.
Immigration
For Donald Trump, the border question is “subject number 1”. It is also the most sensitive of the campaign: under the Biden presidency, the country experienced a peak in illegal entries.
The Republican, who campaigned in 2016 promising to build a wall along the Mexican border, went much further this time, promising the largest expulsion operation of illegal migrants in US history. .
“An invasion”, “hordes”, “they are poisoning the blood of America”: his xenophobic and dehumanizing rhetoric on migrants comes back repeatedly in his speeches.
For her part, Kamala Harris, on the defensive on this subject, explained that she would have a firm policy, believing that there needed to be “consequences” for people entering illegally.
She supported a plan to significantly tighten Joe Biden’s migration policy, including investing in physical barriers.
The issue could encourage traditionally less politicized citizens to go to the polls, particularly women, which could benefit Democrats. Because in parallel with the presidential election, referendums are being organized on the subject in ten states.
Abortion
This is the first presidential election since the Supreme Court, reshuffled by Donald Trump, reversed the federal protection of abortion by revoking the Roe v. ruling in June 2022. Wade. Since then, at least 20 states have implemented partial or total restrictions on voluntary termination of pregnancy.
At the forefront on this issue, Kamala Harris has made it a central element of her vice-presidency and her campaign. She holds her rival responsible for the current situation which she describes as “horrible and heartbreaking”.
She wants a federal law, which would incorporate the provisions of the Roe v. Wade.
Conversely, Donald Trump is vacillating on this issue. He said he was proud to have put this issue back in the hands of the states thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision, but declared that some “had gone too far.”
He promised his administration would be “great for women,” but some fear, after ambiguous comments from him, that he will use his presidential power to limit access to drugs used in medical abortions.
Wars
With a campaign taking place while wars in the Middle East and Ukraine rage, the positions of two candidates are being scrutinized by certain groups of voters.
The Republican, who believes that America has never been so little respected in the world, keeps saying that he would resolve conflicts without delay. But he never explains how.
He denounces the enormous amounts released by Washington for kyiv since 2022.
Conversely, Kamala Harris promised that she would stand “firmly alongside Ukraine” and would not make “friends with dictators”, unlike her rival.
If they both gave their support to Israel which has the “right to defend itself”, the vice-presidency tried to balance its speech also insisting on the suffering of the Palestinians.
Greenhouse gases
The United States is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China, but the subject was barely addressed by the candidates, who have diametrically opposed views.
Climate skeptic Donald Trump has promised to reverse subsidies for renewable energy and electric vehicles. The former president also planned to “drill all he can” and exit the Paris Agreement again.
Kamala Harris pledges to “continue and expand U.S. international leadership on climate.”
Vice-president, she supported Joe Biden’s major energy transition plan, the “Inflation Reduction Act”.
And as a senator from California, she supported the “Green New Deal,” a resolution calling for drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
