A side-by-side look at where Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton stand on the issues
Their platforms are just as different as their temperaments.
Donald Trump says things almost every day that would disqualify any other candidate—and prioritizes 3:00 a.m. tweetstorms over policy papers. So, naturally, even though Hillary Clinton has continued to propose new policy throughout the campaign, the issues that actually affect people’s lives haven’t been getting the attention they deserve.
Three weeks from today, though, we will elect a president—and putting forward policies that improve the lives of all Americans will be one of the president’s most important responsibilities.
So, with the final presidential debate approaching, it’s time we take a close look at both of the candidates’ proposal.
Take a side-by-side look at where Hillary and Trump stand on the kinds of policies that matter most:
On Jobs
Hillary will make the boldest investment in the American economy and good-paying jobs in generations. She will expand support for American manufacturing, advance our commitment to research and technology, and make the biggest investment in infrastructure in decades. | Trump has no plans for investing in infrastructure, research, or manufacturing. Instead, he talks a lot about giving large tax breaks to millionaires, billionaires, and large corporations. |
On taxes
Hillary’s tax plan ensures the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share—and she’ll use that revenue to create jobs and raise incomes for working families. | Trump’s tax plan is good for Trump. It slashes taxes for all his fellow millionaires, adding trillions to the national debt—while raising taxes on millions of middle-class families. |
On clean energy
Hillary wants to make America the clean-energy superpower of the world, and uphold our commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. | Trump tweeted that climate change is a “hoax” made up by the Chinese—and promised to tear up the Paris Climate Agreement. |
On college affordability
Hillary has a plan to make debt-free college available to all Americans—and enable current borrowers to refinance their loans and save money. Calculate how much the plan will save you. | We are still waiting for Donald Trump to lay out a detailed plan for addressing these issues. And the few details he has provided raise troubling questions. |
On equal pay
Hillary will build on her career-long effort to advance equal pay—working to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, increase minimum wage, ensure affordable child care, and guarantee paid leave. | Trump insisted that women “make the same if [they] do as good a job” as men. |
On paid leave
Hillary refuses to allow the U.S. to be the only advanced country without guaranteed paid family leave. Her plan will guarantee up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, and ensure workers get two-thirds of their current wages while on leave. | Trump’s limited maternity leave “plan” excludes:
|
On immigration
Hillary will introduce comprehensive immigration reform legislation, with a path to full and equal citizenship, in her first 100 days in office. She has pledged to protect DREAMers and parents of Americans and lawful residents from the risk of deportation. |
On abortion
Hillary will fiercely protect a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion, support Planned Parenthood, and appoint Supreme Court justices who would uphold Roe v. Wade. | Trump thinks women who get abortions should face “punishment.” |
On guns
Hillary will work to end the epidemic of gun violence by enforcing comprehensive background checks, closing loopholes, holding manufacturers accountable, and keeping guns out of the hands of violent criminals. | Trump has no plan to curb the gun violence epidemic—he even promised to end gun-free school zones as president. |
On child care
Hillary’s plan:
| Trump’s child care plan is really just a tax cut for the wealthy—millions of working families wouldn’t get the help they need. |
On the Supreme Court
Hillary would appoint justices who believe in protecting abortion rights, expanding voting rights, defending marriage equality, overturning Citizens United, and reinstating President Obama’s executive actions on behalf of DREAMers. | Trump would appoint justices who would reverse Roe v. Wade, restrict voting rights, reverse the decision on marriage equality, defend Citizens United, lead the charge against the Affordable Care Act, and oppose a path to citizenship. |
On racial justice
Hillary has proposed policies to reform our broken criminal justice system, restore trust between communities and policy, protect the right to vote, and end the epidemic of gun violence. | Trump dismisses implicit bias and compares predominantly African American and Latino communities to “hell”—insinuating that all people of color live in what he calls “inner cities.” |
On addiction and substance use
Hillary has a plan to combat the quiet epidemic through improved treatment, prevention, and training—including taking steps like reforming prescription standards and giving better instructions to first responders. | No Trump plan found. |
On mental health
No Trump plan found. |
On Social Security and Medicare
Hillary will defend, protect, and strengthen lifelines like Social Security and Medicare. She’s wants to expand Social Security for those who need it most and are treated unfairly by the current system. | Trump says he will “save Social Security and Medicare without cuts”—but his trillions in tax cuts for the wealthy actually put them at risk.*
*The Republican platform also says that “all options should be considered.” |
On debt
Hillary’s economic plans are paid for by asking the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share. | Trump’s plan would add an unprecedented $5.3 trillion to the debt over 10 years, according to nonpartisan analysis. |
On Muslim Americans
Hillary will stand up to anti-Muslim hatred and bigotry and defend the civil rights of all Americans. She knows that demonizing a whole religion would alienate the very people we need as partners in the fight against ISIS and the broader global terrorist movement. | Trump wants to institute a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”—and has implied that Muslim Americans are complicit in terrorist attacks. |
On defeating ISIS
Hillary has a plan to defeat ISIS, by:
| It’s a “secret.” |
These policies prove what has been clear this entire election cycle: Hillary is the most qualified candidate to ever run for president, while Trump is dangerously unqualified for office—and has a vision for America that is equal parts regressive and reckless.
Let’s make sure Hillary wins this election—so she can get to work passing the most forward-thinking, progressive platform in our nation’s history. Make a plan to vote right now.
