Harris Faces Criticism for Repeatedly Mirroring Trump's Campaign Strategies

Vice President Kamala Harris has been accused of adopting former President Donald Trump's policy positions on the campaign trail in an apparent attempt to shift focus from her progressive record. Despite lacking policy positions on her campaign website, Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has started to echo her opponent's rhetoric in speeches and advertisements.

Key Instances of Policy Mimicry:

• No Tax on Tips: During a rally in Las Vegas, Harris promised to abolish the tax on tips for service and hospitality workers, a policy Trump proposed in June. Harris even used the tagline "no tax on tips," a phrase Trump has been championing for months. The Nevada Culinary Union, which had previously endorsed Trump's proposal, hosted Harris.

This shift is notable given the Biden-Harris administration's earlier initiative with the IRS and Treasury Department to more rigorously enforce taxes on tips, highlighting a stark departure from their previous stance.

• Border Security: Harris recently portrayed herself as a border security advocate during a rally in Glendale, Arizona, aligning with policies Trump introduced in 2016. Her campaign launched an advertisement claiming that Harris supports increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and investing more resources to combat human trafficking.

In contrast, Harris's record shows she previously suggested abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and oversaw an unprecedented surge of over 10 million border crossings as the Biden administration's "border czar." The administration also ended DNA testing at the border, which had been used to prevent the trafficking of unaccompanied minors.

Trump's administration established the Center for Countering Human Trafficking and launched the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking in 2020, allocating over $35 million to provide safe housing for trafficking victims.

• Inflation Concerns: Addressing inflation, a top voter concern, Harris told a crowd in Atlanta, Georgia, "Prices are still too high — you know it and I know it," pledging to tackle price-gouging and lower costs from "day one" if elected. Similarly, at a rally in Wisconsin, she reiterated her commitment to make price reduction a top priority.

These statements closely mirror Trump's campaign focus on ending inflation. One of the key items in Trump’s Agenda 47 platform is "End inflation and make America affordable again," and he emphasized combating the "inflation nightmare" in his speech at the Republican National Convention.

Harris's recent rhetoric appears to be an effort to align herself more closely with popular policy stances associated with Trump, potentially to attract a broader base of support. However, her historical positions and actions as vice president paint a different picture, raising questions about her campaign's consistency and credibility.

As the 2024 election approaches, the contrasts between candidates’ platforms and their records are likely to become focal points in the national debate. To stay updated on these developments, consider sharing this article or subscribing to our newsletter.