Where Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Stand on Key Issues in ABC News Debate

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will meet for the first time on Tuesday during a presidential debate hosted by ABC News.

The two sides are facing off at a crucial moment: just weeks until Election Day and days before some states begin early voting.

The ABC News presidential debate will take place on September 10 at 9:00 p.m. EDT and will air on ABC and stream on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu.

Political topics that Harris and Trump are likely to discuss include the economy, immigration, reproductive rights, crime and more.

Below is a quick overview of their positions on key election issues, as revealed by recent ABC News/Ipsos polls.

Economy, inflation

Trump has been a vocal critic of the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the economy, saying their policies are causing inflation. Inflation hit a 40-year high in 2022 but has since fallen to 2.9% annualized in July.

On policy, he has promised to cut costs by restoring “energy independence” through more oil drilling and lowering gas prices. He has also said he would reduce the national debt, eliminate regulations and implement a variety of tax cuts for domestic companies as well as tariffs on foreign imports.

Harris has laid out a plan for what she calls an “opportunity economy,” which builds on what the administration has done on drug prices and child benefits, but goes further on several fronts.

Her proposal includes $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homeowners, the construction of 3 million new homes, a minimum wage increase and a federal ban on corporate overcharging for food and groceries. She has also proposed a $50,000 tax break for new small businesses and a 28% lower long-term capital gains tax.

Immigration

Trump has made immigration and border security a key plank of his campaign, often going further in his anti-immigration rhetoric than he did in 2016.

He said that if elected, he plans to finish the U.S.-Mexico border wall, revive “Remain in Mexico” and asylum restrictions, and carry out “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization. Trump has also promised to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship.

Harris defended the administration’s handling of the issue, particularly its role in addressing the root causes of migration from Central America.

She has also railed against Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan border bill that would have tightened asylum rules and other immigration restrictions while also increasing funding to improve legal immigration routes. Harris said she would continue to push for the legislation if elected and pledged to sign it if it reaches her desk. She also wants comprehensive reform that includes an earned path to citizenship.

Reproductive rights

Harris became the face of the administration’s fight for reproductive rights and abortion access after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, traveling the country to speak on the issue.

She has called on Congress to pass legislation restoring protections for abortion rights guaranteed by Roe. She has been highly critical of state-level restrictions, questioning why Republican lawmakers don’t “trust” women.

Trump frequently touts his role in the nomination of three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe, but has shifted his stance on some issues as the campaign progressed. While he previously supported a nationwide ban, he now says it should be up to states to regulate abortion access.

He recently stated that under his administration, the government or corporate insurance would be required to pay all costs associated with in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Although he did not specify exactly how the program would work or be funded.

Crime, gun violence

Gun violence is back in the news after two students and two teachers were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.

Harris called the shooting a “senseless tragedy” and said it “doesn’t have to be this way.” She called for nationwide “red flag” laws, universal background checks and a ban on assault rifles.

Trump blamed the shooting on a “sick, deranged monster.” He has often argued in the aftermath of mass shootings that guns were not to blame, but rather mental health issues. He has called himself the “most pro-gun” president in history and has given no indication that he would take gun control measures if elected.

In general, Trump has repeatedly claimed that crime rates are rising, despite violent crime across the country generally falling compared to last year. Harris, meanwhile, has touted her background as a prosecutor, saying she has a track record of taking on drug cartels and corporations in the interests of ordinary Americans. She also pledged to continue funding law enforcement agencies and touted the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan to invest $15 billion in public safety.

Foreign policy

Harris has thus far adopted many of President Biden’s foreign policy positions. She said that as president, she would continue to support Ukraine and NATO. She has also pledged “to never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect American forces and interests from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups.”

On the war between Israel and Hamas, Harris has reiterated her support for Israel’s security but also expressed sympathy for the plight of civilians in Gaza. She has called for a ceasefire with returned hostages and said she is working with Biden to secure such a deal.

Trump has claimed that neither the war between Israel and Hamas nor the war between Russia and Ukraine would have started if he had been president. He has indicated that he would cut US aid to Kiev and continues to criticize NATO allies for not doing enough. He has also expressed strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself and to take on Hamas, but has also called for a swift end to the war.

Trump has also sought to make Afghanistan a key issue in recent weeks following the third anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal of troops from the country. He has criticized the Biden-Harris administration for the chaotic withdrawal and blamed it for the deaths of 13 U.S. service members killed in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate. Harris defended the decision to end America’s “longest war” and said she would take action to protect Americans from terrorist threats.

Democracy

Trump continues to make false claims about the 2020 election, claiming without evidence that it was rigged or stolen. He currently faces state and federal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his election loss, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Last week, he appeared to concede that he had lost the 2020 election, saying he had received more votes in his re-election campaign than he did in 2016 but still “lost by a hair.”

In a major escalation of that rhetoric, Trump said that if he wins this race, those who “cheat” “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, which will include lengthy prison sentences.” He suggested that his apparent threat of “legal exposure” applies to “lawyers, political operatives, donors, illegal voters, & Corrupt election officials.”

Trump has also sent mixed signals about voting methods this campaign, frequently repeating his calls to vote only on Election Day and making unsubstantiated claims that mail-in voting is open to abuse. At the same time, he has encouraged his supporters to cast their ballots, whether through early voting, mail-in voting or other forms of voting.

Trump also accused Democrats of a “coup” after President Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris, who quickly gained enough support from his party to become the nominee.

Harris has criticized attempts to sow doubt about the election, saying Trump tried to “throw away” people’s votes and blaming him for what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

She said she would work as president to advance the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to strengthen voting rights. She also pledged to “uphold America’s founding principles, from the rule of law to free and fair elections and the peaceful transition of power.”

ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Hannah Demissie, Fritz Farrow, Lalee Ibssa, Soo Rin Kim, Will McDuffie and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.