As the 47th American election approaches on November 5th, speculation and tension surround the major candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. This election, marked by controversies like Project 2025 and immigration policies, is seen as pivotal. While both candidates show alignment on foreign policy regarding Gaza, internal debates raise questions about governance and party dynamics post-election.
Author: Margarida Veríssimo
Controversies, Candidates, and Consequences
The 47th American election will occur on November 5th and will feature two major candidates: Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party and Donald J. Trump from the Republican side.
This election is causing a lot of speculation, fear, and tension in the country, with many Americans characterizing it as the most important election of their lifetime. It has been riddled with controversies, from Project 2025 to the Border Czar, as well as unclear policies and a changing political landscape. What is going on? Stick around, and let’s clarify and shed some light on the controversies that have shaped this election cycle.
Starting with Project 2025, it is a set of policies and immediate actions elaborated by 900 conservatives as a project of the Heritage Foundation. These policies are divided into general projects and a plan for the first 180 days of the “next Republican president” in office. The policies range from education, including the abolition of the Department of Education in favor of state regulators, to the criminalization of pornography.
Even though this project has been linked to Donald Trump and some of the policies will overlap, Trump has publicly stated that he has nothing to do with Project 2025. While the Biden and now Harris campaign has highlighted this set of policies crafted since 2023, it is clear from Trump and his campaign that Project 2025 does not represent his policies.
One of the most pressing subjects concerning the American electorate is immigration. Consequently, attention to policies related to this topic has been closely monitored by both sides. Kamala Harris has been called the “Border Czar” by Joe Biden, who declared in March 2021 that she would be responsible for addressing the root causes of immigration into the U.S., tackling problems such as poverty and trafficking in order to prevent people from seeking to enter the U.S.
This term has now been popularized by Trump’s campaign, due to the increase in illegal crossings at the border, with at least 7.2 million confirmed crossings. This fact has been characterized as a failure of the “Border Czar.” However, it should be noted that while the presidency may play a role in these staggering numbers, the title of “Border Czar” was created to address root issues, not to control the border. Nevertheless, claims have emerged that Kamala has previously defended open borders and has only visited the border twice since her election as Vice President.
While the race seems to be between two candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not dropped out. RFK was a participant in the 2024 presidential race, although a lot is still unclear. After losing the primaries, RFK asserted himself as an independent and began a campaign in several states where his name was not on the ballot, such as New York and Georgia. However, in August, he declared that he was suspending his campaign, even though he continued to run. He stated, “If you live in a blue state, you can vote for me without harming or helping President Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris.” He added, “In red states, the same will apply. I encourage you to vote for me.”
After suspending his campaign, RFK supported Donald Trump, stating that he would be given leading roles in the CDC and other health organizations. However, tensions have been rising, and a new problem and theory seem to be circulating.
It has been suggested that if Trump were to win the election, Congress might deem him unfit to govern based on the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which reads: “No person shall be a […] elector of President and Vice-President, […] shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.” Congress currently has a Democratic majority in the House, and it is believed that if this amendment were invoked, it could render Trump’s presidency invalid. This has contributed to theories that Congress could also invoke the military to quell civil unrest, as several major generals have stated they would stand by Congress’s decision.
However, even though this is about the American electorate, there are also pressing international issues, such as the war in Gaza. How do the candidates respond to this? Trump and Harris support a two-state solution and have condemned the attack by Hamas. They have both stated that they contest the killings in Gaza while showing support for Israel’s right to defend itself. In this regard, although the wording may differ, they end up leaning in the same direction toward a quick Israeli victory.
In the end, more than speculation, all we can do is wait and see how this election will play out.
Image by: kp yamu Jayanath from Pixabay
