iPaulina

Donald Trump’s campaign revolved around his promise to ‘make America great again’. He confronted pressing issues, proposed simple solutions to complex problems, and convinced his supporters that he could make an impact. For example, many of Trump’s policies prioritised the economy, which was a critical area to address for the American public. He promised to ‘end inflation and make America affordable again’ and suggested that drilling for oil should be increased to lower energy costs, showing how he thinks it is more important to have a flourishing economy than an eco-friendly environment. He also said that he would impose higher taxes on imports, which would push up the prices of foreign products to encourage more sales for American businesses. These ideas put the economy first, and, as that was a priority for many Americans, Trump gained significant favour. Kamala Harris’ views on inflation were less impactful: as one of her suggestions, she said she would try to lower the prices of grocery items. As Americans were not promised anything concrete, Kamala Harris lost support.

Another topic where the Democratic and Republican candidates took different stances was abortion. Kamala Harris stood as a firm supporter of reproductive rights for women and made clear her belief that women should have the ability to decide what to do with their bodies, while Trump supported the abortion ban but stated that he would not impose a nationwide ban on abortion, leaving it to states to create their own laws. Kamala Harris’ views on abortion and women’s rights were intended to gain support among women, yet this did not garner her as much support she had hoped.