Presidential Candidates: A Candid Look at Harris and Trump
By Your Favorite Comedic Trio: Carr, Atkinson, Gervais, and Evans
November 2, 2024 – 11:28 AM
Folks, let’s take a moment to step back from the flashy campaign ads, the knee-jerk tweets, and the endless podium shots of our esteemed U.S. presidential candidates. What do we have instead? A look at their adorable three-year-old selves. Who knew the White House was once just a figment of tiny dreams and juice boxes?
On one side we have Kamala Harris, the child mastermind from Oakland who swept through her youth with an Indian mother holding court as both a cancer researcher and a social activist. You might say little Kamala was destined to see the world through a lens of justice and democracy—no pressure there, right? Meanwhile, over in Queens, Donald Trump was presumably plotting to build a tower out of cardboard, supervised by his own residential ‘reality show’ dad. Ah, childhood, when all you needed were Legos and parents with ambition!
The Origins of a Contest and the Journey Thereafter
Harris continued her academic jaunt through the gleaming halls of Howard University after spending her formative years in Montreal. Meanwhile, Trump’s illustrious education at military school screams discipline—like his five-time deferment from the Vietnam War! Now that’s what I call creative leadership training! I mean, who knew the key to success was avoiding a national draft?
Fast forward to adulthood and their trajectories couldn’t be more different. Harris became California’s attorney general, and in a plot twist worthy of a Netflix series, she leveled up to the U.S. Senate, while Trump leaped straight from boardrooms to a presidential seat, shocking everyone—especially Hillary Clinton!
Social Turmoil and Political Drama
As Trump wrapped up his testy term, we encountered what we can only describe as “unprecedented” – George Floyd’s tragic death leading to protests, a pandemic, and, oh yes, a few constitutional rights being overturned. Was this just a plot twist, or did America order the “Chaos Special” off the political menu?
Harris, on the other hand, displays her ability to pivot into action, championing rights as if she’s auditioning for the next superhero franchise. It was quite the shift from VP duties to civil rights, and President Biden gave a nod of approval—because who wouldn’t want to be on the side of a catchy hashtag?
Speaking of shifts, let’s discuss family. Harris, affectionately dubbed “Momala,” seems to juggle a blended family more deftly than a circus performer. Meanwhile, Trump’s family tree resembles a reality show that has had too many seasons—cue the dramatic music.
The Race to 2024
Now, let’s get to the current showdown. Harris, riding the momentum and stepping in relatively late in the game after Biden’s decision, made history by becoming the first black and Asian American woman to snag a major party’s nomination. Cue the confetti!
And what’s Trump up to? He’s out here collecting nominations like Pokémon cards, going for a rare three-peat. Add in two assassination attempts, and that’s enough drama for the next summer blockbuster.
image copyrightAlamy
November 2, 2024 11:28 AM
The American electorate frequently encounters images of presidential contenders during election seasons, capturing the dynamic moments of candidates addressing audiences, mingling with supporters, and descending from aircraft. In this visual exploration, we present a selection of unique photographs that reveal insights into the lives and backgrounds of the two leading candidates for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The nostalgic images featured above showcase Kamala Harris and Donald Trump at the tender age of three, a time when their aspirations for the White House were yet to be imagined.
Childhood memories for Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, were framed by her upbringing in Oakland, California, while her Republican rival, Trump, came of age in the vibrant borough of Queens, New York City.
Raised primarily by her Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris—an esteemed cancer researcher and dedicated social activist—Harris shares a close bond with her younger sister, Maya, as seen in their childhood photographs.
Trump’s lineage includes his father, Fred Trump, who descended from German immigrants, and his mother, Mary Ann McLeod Trump, a Scottish native. At the age of thirteen, his parents made the pivotal decision to enroll him in the New York Military Academy, shaping his formative years.
During her teenage years, Harris spent five years in Montreal, where she attended high school while her mother served as a professor at McGill University. Harris later chose to further her education at Howard University, a renowned historically Black institution located in Washington, D.C.
Trump’s military training, initiated in 1959 and lasting five years, played a critical role in shaping his leadership abilities. However, he deferred his military service five times, a decision influenced by academic pursuits and, notably, a health issue related to osteophytes, which prevented his participation in the Vietnam War.
image copyrightKamala Harris / @realDonaldTrump
Harris cultivated a profound understanding of the civil rights movement from an early age, thanks in part to her mother’s teachings. In a pivotal moment in 2004, she took part in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom March in Washington, D.C., highlighting her commitment to social justice.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, leveraging his academic background to assume control of the family real estate business.
As California’s attorney general, Harris oversaw the state’s criminal justice system before launching her successful campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2016, where she secured a historic victory.
At the same time that Harris ventured into Congress, Trump made headlines by defeating Hillary Clinton in a landmark election that stunned political analysts and observers worldwide.
Harris’s entry into the presidential race three years later garnered mixed reactions and limited attention, yet the momentum of then-candidate Joe Biden propelled her to the position of his running mate. Together, they triumphed in the presidential election, defeating Trump and his vice-presidential counterpart, Mike Pence.
The transition of power following Trump’s presidency coincided with a national reckoning, sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which ignited widespread protests and unrest amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, Harris’s presence as vice president was relatively subdued; however, the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned the constitutional right to abortion provided her a platform to amplify her voice on critical issues.
President Biden expressed strong support for Harris’s advocacy, acknowledging her vital role in representing the administration’s commitment to upholding rights protections.
During his presidency, Trump appointed judges who shifted the Supreme Court’s balance towards a more conservative orientation, leading to pivotal rulings that rolled back women’s reproductive rights.
Trump’s administration notably withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, a move that drew significant criticism from environmental advocates, and implemented stringent immigration policies.
On her inaugural international trip as vice president in 2021, Harris visited Guatemala, a trip framed within the broader context of addressing the surge of Latino migrants seeking entry across the southern border with Mexico.
Significant foreign policy challenges during her vice presidency included the escalating wars in Ukraine and Gaza, coupled with the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which ignited political debate.
Trump’s administration prioritized an isolationist stance, avoiding entanglements in foreign conflicts while advocating for the revitalization of American manufacturing during his first overseas visit to Saudi Arabia in 2017.
Harris is married to Doug Emhoff, who actively campaigns on her behalf and balances family life with his children from a previous marriage, creating a blended family dynamic that she affectionately refers to as “Momala.”
In contrast, Trump’s family members have played various roles in shaping his political narrative; however, his wife, Melania Trump, has remained relatively low-profile during his 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump shares three children with his first wife, Ivana, including Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, as well as a daughter, Tiffany, from his marriage to Marla Maples, and his youngest son, Barron, with Melania.
image copyrightAlamy/AP
Harris’s late entry into the 2024 presidential race marked a historical moment as she replaced President Biden, who opted not to seek re-election.
She made history at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, becoming the first Black and Asian American woman nominated as a presidential candidate by a major political party.
Trump’s unprecedented nomination for a third time as his party’s candidate came amidst challenges, including two assassination attempts during the campaign. He persevered through adversity and delivered a notable speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, despite visible injuries.
Photo Editing: Phil Coombs
image copyrightReuters/EPA-EFE
Trump economic policies
During his presidency, Trump focused on bolstering the U.S. economy and touting job growth, despite the onset of trade wars and criticisms of his administration’s economic policies. He often emphasized the stock market’s performance as a key indicator of his success.
In contrast, Harris has centered her campaign around issues of social justice, healthcare reform, and climate change, emphasizing the need for a more equitable society through actionable policy changes. Her experiences as a prosecutor and Vice President have cemented her focus on criminal justice reform and civil rights advocacy.
As the race to 2024 intensifies, both candidates are expected to leverage their unique backgrounds and political experiences, as well as their vision for America, to resonate with voters. With the stakes higher than ever, the upcoming election is set to be a defining moment in American politics, showcasing the divergent paths of two leaders vying for the nation’s top position.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: the 2024 election will be filled with spirited debates, dynamic campaign strategies, and a nation watching closely as the future unfolds.
