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Because the 2024 presidential election is a rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, it can feel easy to tune out — been there, done that, reluctantly doing it again.
But it’s worth taking a close look at the records of and policies being pushed by the Republican and Democratic nominees. Whoever wins the White House will have tremendous sway over the direction our country takes on critical issues from reproductive rights to climate change, and will be able to nominate federal and Supreme Court justices.
To break down where Biden and Trump stand on key issues, guides.vote shared its nonpartisan guide with Teen Vogue. Check it out below.
Joe Biden
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Donald Trump
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Abortion
Ban or legal?
Biden
Legal. “Roe v. Wade was right.” “Stop playing politics with women’s lives and freedom.” Expanded access to contraception and abortion, including abortion pills. Strengthened privacy rules protecting abortion patients and providers. Overturned a Trump ban on federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Trump
Ban. “After 50 years of failure, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade.“ Did so by appointing three anti-abortion Supreme Court Justices. It was “a miracle.” States should decide for themselves, potentially monitoring women’s pregnancies and prosecuting women for getting abortions. Abortion is “really not that big an issue.”
Climate Change
Should climate change be a top priority?
Biden
Yes. Committed $369 billion to climate & clean energy, the biggest investment in US history. Also $1.2 trillion in infrastructure, part of which reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Rejoined Paris climate pact. Revoked Keystone Pipeline permit. Paused natural gas export approvals.
Trump
No. Climate change is a “hoax.” The world will “start getting cooler.” Withdrew from the Paris climate pact. Will expand coal and oil production. “I want to drill, baby, drill.” Asked oil and gas executives to donate $1 billion so he could reverse Biden’s climate initiatives.
Criminal Justice
How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?
Biden
Banned chokeholds, curbed no-knock entries, implemented anti-bias training. Increased police funding, including community programs. Must “reform our broader criminal justice system so that it protects and serves all people equally.”
Trump
Police are “under siege.” Cut back active federal oversight of excess force, though supported a database to track it. Admires Chinese approach of quick trials and a death penalty for drug dealers so there will be a “zero drug problem.”
Education
Limit teaching about racism and gender identity?
Biden
No. Wouldn’t “ban books” or “bury history.” “We should know everything: the good, the bad, the truth of who we are.” “All students should be guaranteed an educational environment free from discrimination.”
Trump
Yes. Certify teachers who “embrace patriotic values.” Would “cut federal funding” for any school “pushing critical race theory, gender ideology.” Restricted diversity training for federal employees and contractors.
Elections
Did Joe Biden win the 2020 Presidential election?
Biden
Yes. On Jan 6 “a violent mob of insurrectionists” tried “to overthrow the will of the people,… fueled by lies about the 2020 election.” “You can’t love your country only when you win.” “In more than 60 cases,” judges found Trump challenges “without any merit.”
Trump
No. Called the election a “Big Lie” and a ”Massive Fraud” that would justify “termination” of parts of the Constitution. Called those who stormed U.S. Capitol “unbelievable patriots.” Would pardon them fully.
Environment
Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?
Biden
Tighten. Issued more than 100 environmental regulations; targeted or overturned three-quarters of Trump’s deregulatory actions.
Trump
Loosen. Weakened or ended more than 125 environmental protections, including wetlands and wildlife. Will reverse Biden policies.
Gun Laws
Loosen or tighten gun regulations?
Biden
Tighten. “When in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Signed the bipartisan gun safety bill. Required background checks in online and gun show sales.
Trump
Loosen. To NRA, “no one will lay a finger on your firearms.” Plans to roll back Biden gun restrictions. Reversed Obama-era background checks for those with mental illnesses.
Health Care
Repeal or expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare?
Biden
Expanded ACA enrollment and made it more affordable. Increased Medicaid funding. Helped states expand Medicaid. Worked on lowering Medicare drug prices, including capping insulin cost at $35.
Trump
Repeal. ”Terminate.” “Obamacare is a catastrophe.” As President, promised to replace it with “something terrific,” but repeal failed in the Senate by one vote. Supported an unsuccessful lawsuit to overturn it.
Immigration
How to handle immigration? Support a path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the US as children?
Biden
Pushed for an “earned roadmap to citizenship for undocumented individuals,” including DACA. Supported a bipartisan Senate bill to tighten the border and speed case processing. Reversed Trump bans on travel from Muslim countries. Allowed DACA participants to access federally run health insurance. Limited the daily numbers of asylum seekers.
Trump
Illegal immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.” Will use the National Guard and local police, with possible detention camps, to deport 15 to 20 million illegal immigrants. Opposed the bipartisan Senate immigration bill. Tried to end DACA; Supreme Court overruled. Would renew his Muslim ban and end automatic citizenship for everyone born in US.
Israel / Gaza
Response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza following October Hamas attack?
Biden
Has supported Israel militarily. Criticized civilian deaths in Gaza and a lack of post-invasion planning. Called for a ceasefire and withheld some weapons over Israel attacking Rafah. Supports a “transition to a two-state solution.”
Trump
Has supported Israeli action, “get the job done.” Says Israel releasing images of bombed Gaza buildings loses “the PR war.” Gaza protesters are “raging lunatics and Hamas sympathizers.” Would deport student protesters.
Labor
Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?
Biden
Easier. The first President to walk a union picket line. Appointed labor leaders to head the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Revoked a Trump order curbing federal employee collective bargaining.
Trump
Harder. Made it harder for unions to win representation and organize on an employer’s property. Restricted federal employee collective bargaining. Striking Auto Workers were “sold down the river by their leadership.”
LGBTQ Rights
Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?
Biden
Expand. Signed same-sex and interracial marriages into federal law. Protected LGBTQ medical patients from discrimination. Reversed the Trump ban on transgender servicemembers in the military.
Trump
Limit. Weakened an Obama order protecting LGBTQ federal contractors from discrimination. Banned transgender military servicemembers and ended anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients.
Marijuana
Ban or legal?
Biden
Mostly legal. Pardoned people convicted of federal possession. No one should be jailed for possession. Reclassified as less dangerous drug.
Trump
Unclear. It does “significant damage.” Reversed Obama rule to not prosecute in states where legal, but ultimately didn’t prosecute.
Minimum Wage
Raise federal minimum from $7.25 an hour?
Biden
Yes. “$15 an hour minimum wage is long overdue.” Raised the minimum wage paid by federal contractors to $15 an hour.
Trump
No. A $15 minimum wage would “eliminate jobs.” Threatened to veto. Questioned need for a federal minimum wage: let the states decide.
Social Security
Cut Social Security or raise retirement age to stabilize program?
Biden
No. “We will not cut Social Security. We will not cut Medicare.” Proposes higher taxes on wealthy Americans to help pay for Social Security and Medicare.
Trump
Mostly yes. There’s “a lot you can do in… cutting.” Also flags bad management. Proposed $35 billion cuts in Social Security disability programs. But “will never do anything” to “hurt Social Security.”
Student Financial Aid
Support lowering interest on student loans and/or forgiving them?
Biden
Yes. Forgave $160 billion for nearly 4.6 million borrowers, after the Supreme Court blocked his $430 billion forgiveness plan. His new plan caps repayment amounts by income.
Trump
No. Called student loan forgiveness “unfair” to those not attending college. Vetoed forgiving loans of defrauded students. Proposed cutting support programs for student borrowers.
Taxes
Raise or lower taxes on the wealthy and corporations?
Biden
Raise. Increase taxes on the wealthy. “No billionaire should be paying a lower tax rate than a school teacher or a firefighter.” Extend Trump tax cuts for the middle class, but not for the wealthy or corporations.
Trump
Lower. His 2017 tax cut included the largest corporate cuts in US history and major tax cuts for the wealthy. Would extend them when they expire in 2025. Raising business taxes “will lead to the destruction of your jobs.”
Ukraine / Russia
Support defending Ukraine against Russian invasion?
Biden
Yes. Supporting Ukraine aid is “standing up to Putin, opposing it is playing into Putin’s hands.”
Trump
Mostly no. To end the war, will push Ukraine to give up territory to Russia. Russia should “do whatever the hell they want” to NATO countries that don’t pay in enough.
Voting Rules
Make voting harder or easier?
Biden
Easier. The right to vote is “fundamental” and “under assault.” Directed federal agencies to encourage voting. Pass voting rights bills, “it’s time for more than just talk.”
Trump
Harder. Has long supported stronger voter ID requirements. Sued to bar ballot drop boxes. Encouraged Republicans to vote early but said early ballots “get lost” or are “phony.”
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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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