Donald Trump
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
In a 2000 book, Trump voiced support for a ban on military-style "assault weapons." However, since then he has moved away from gun control. At a 2023 NRA conference he said, "I was proud to be the most pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment president you've ever had in the White House."
For| Read My Position
Trump's website states: "In connection with totally refocusing schools on succeeding in the world of work, President Trump pledges to close the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. and to send all education work and needs back to the States."
Trump has also called for defunding the Department of Justice and FBI on his social media platform, Truth Social.
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and redistributing its duties?
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2023
"President Trump supports a constitutional amendment to impose term limits on Congress, a lifetime ban on lobbying by former members, and a ban on members of Congress trading stocks with insider knowledge."
For| Read My Position
For| Read My Position
"The Administration recognizes that the only way to reform Medicaid and set it on a sound fiscal path is by putting States on equal footing with the Federal Government to implement comprehensive Medicaid financing reform through a per capita cap or block grant. A new Federal-State partnership is necessary to eliminate inefficient Medicaid spending, including repeal of the Medicaid expansion, and reducing financing gimmicks such as provider taxes. The Budget would empower States to design State-based solutions that prioritize Medicaid dollars for the most vulnerable and support innovation."
For| Read My Position
"I say to the Republicans out there – congressmen, senators – if they don’t give you massive cuts, you’re going to have to do a default. And I don’t believe they’re going to do a default because I think the Democrats will absolutely cave because you don’t want to have that happen. But it’s better than what we’re doing right now because we’re spending money like drunken sailors."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2023
Should the federal government combat inflation by capping price increases by large businesses?
Other| Read My Position
Other, 2019
Trump rescinded the Obama administration Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which created legal status for children brought to the U.S. illegally as children. However, he has voiced support for Congress passing a program similar to DACA, if they also increase border security.
In 2018 he tweeted, "I have offered DACA a wonderful deal, including a doubling in the number of recipients & a twelve year pathway to citizenship, for two reasons: (1) Because the Republicans want to fix a long time terrible problem. (2) To show that Democrats do not want to solve DACA, only use it!"
For| Read My Position
When asked about an age limit for candidates in September 2023 Trump answered, "I'm all for [competency] testing. Frankly I think it would be a good thing. A lot of people say it's not constitutional to do it, but I would be for testing, to test to make sure that everything's just fine."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support a law that would allow U.S. officials to turn away migrants seeking asylum when the number of border crossings exceeds a certain number?
Other| Read My Position
Trump has not specifically addressed how he would use tariffs going forward, but he supported aggressive tariff increases when serving as president.
Other| Read My Position
Like most U.S. presidential candidates, Trump has not said directly whether he would send U.S. military forces to defend Taiwan if China attacks the island. When pressed in a September 2023 interview Trump answered, "I won’t say. I won’t say. Because if I said, I’m giving away — You know, only stupid people are going to give that — I heard the other day, DeSanctimonious said something about he was willing to do this or he was going to do that. I say, 'Well, why is he saying the strategy?' You can’t say that. So when you ask me that question, I would never say that. Because you give away all your options."
Against| Read My Position
"'President Trump is 100% opposed to Biden's cruel government mandate forcing a rapid and reckless transition to electric vehicles far beyond what consumers want, what workers can accept, what manufacturers can affordably produce, and what our infrastructure can even sustain,' Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told The Post. 'President Trump never mandated anything. He is for consumer choice and the protection of the American autoworker, and always has been. Joe Biden is for his brutal government dictate that stabs union workers in the back and kills their jobs to send the auto industry to China.'"
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
Trump supports Association Health Plans and short-term, limited duration plans, which do not have to offer all of the ten essential health benefits in the Affordable Care Act.
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2023
"President Trump will revoke China’s Most Favored Nation trade status and adopt a 4-year plan to phase out all Chinese imports of essential goods—everything from electronics to steel to pharmaceuticals."
For| Read My Position
At a North Carolina rally Trump said, "We will not by the way, have men participating in women's sports."
Other| Read My Position
"We're working on background checks. There are things we can do. But we already have very serious background checks. We have strong background checks. We can close up the gaps. We can do things that are very good and things that frankly gun owners want to have done."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support an expanded child tax credit that sends monthly payments to middle and low income families?
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support extending the Trump-backed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) past 2025?
Other| Read My Position
"Former President Donald Trump said the federal government should play a 'vital role' opposing abortion but again failed to provide specifics on what national restrictions he would support if elected to the White House again."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2018
"President Trump has expressed strong support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would stop late-term abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, when science tells us that an unborn child can experience pain."
Against| Read My Position
Trump said, "The one problem I have with a flat tax is that rich people are paying the same as people that are making very little money. And I think there should be a graduation of some kind. Because as you make a certain amount of money, I think you should have to graduate upward. That doesn't mean a raise in taxes. That means rich people might be paying less than they're paying right now."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2018
"For decades, American taxpayers have been wrongfully forced to subsidize the abortion industry through Title 10 federal funding. So today, we have kept another promise. My administration has proposed a new rule to prohibit Title 10 funding from going to any clinic that performs abortions."
Against| Read My Position
"In early May 2019, Trump's Secretary of Labor, Alexander Acosta, testified before two Congressional committees, declaring: 'We do not support a change in the federal minimum wage at this time.'"
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2016
"Let me be clear-I am pro-life. I support that position with exceptions allowed for rape, incest or the life of the mother being at risk. I did not always hold this position, but I had a significant personal experience that brought the precious gift of life into perspective for me. ... If using taxpayer money to facilitate our slide to a culture of death was not enough, the 1973 decision became a landmark decision demonstrating the utter contempt the court had for federalism and the 10th Amendment. Roe v. Wade gave the court an excuse to dismantle the decisions of state legislatures and the votes of the people. This is a pattern that the court has repeated over and over again since that decision. Perhaps Roe v. Wade became yet another incidence of disconnect between the people and their government."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2016
"Let me be clear-I am pro-life. I support that position with exceptions allowed for rape, incest or the life of the mother being at risk. I did not always hold this position, but I had a significant personal experience that brought the precious gift of life into perspective for me. ... If using taxpayer money to facilitate our slide to a culture of death was not enough, the 1973 decision became a landmark decision demonstrating the utter contempt the court had for federalism and the 10th Amendment. Roe v. Wade gave the court an excuse to dismantle the decisions of state legislatures and the votes of the people. This is a pattern that the court has repeated over and over again since that decision. Perhaps Roe v. Wade became yet another incidence of disconnect between the people and their government."
For| Read My Position
"The US is likely to ramp up pressure on China by raising existing tariffs if a trade deal is not reached soon between the two countries, a key White House adviser has said.
"The world's two largest economies have been locked in a bruising trade war since Trump in March last year imposed tariff hikes of up to 25 per cent on USD 250 billion of Chinese goods.
"In response, China, the world's second-largest economy after the US, imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on USD 110 billion of American goods.
"Michael Pillsbury, an adviser to the White House on China policy, said that Trump would likely escalate the trade war by raising existing tariffs if no deal is reached."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"To keep pace with the needs of a growing economy, the Trump administration is committed to improvements that address all facets of infrastructure. So the president is calling upon Congress to pass legislation that delivers new and important infrastructure investment to clear up the backlog of needed repairs and modernize America's aging infrastructure."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support increasing military aid to Taiwan?
For| Read My Position
"Drill, baby, drill. Well, we were energy independent. We were soon going to be energy dominant.
"And nobody had ever done what I did. We got oil down to $1.87. Actually, it fell lower than that in some cases. We’d have to save the oil companies – the price was getting.
"So, we were doing incredibly. We had the greatest economy in the history of our country, probably the greatest economy in the history of the world.
"We’re energy independent, soon to be energy dominant. We were going to be bigger than Russia and Saudi Arabia put together times two. We have more liquid gold under our feet than any other nation – any other nation."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should military aid to Israel include a requirement that Israel take certain actions to reduce civilian casualties?
For| Read My Position
"But I will tell you, background checks - I called many senators last night, many congressmen, and Jeff and Pam and everybody in this room. I can tell you, Curtis, they're into doing background checks that they wouldn't be thinking about maybe two weeks ago. We're going to do strong background checks. We're going to work on getting the age up to 21 instead of 18. We're getting rid of the bump stocks. And we're going to be focusing very strongly on mental health, because here's a case of mental health."
Against| Read My Position
For| Read My Position
"Last Thursday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) and Colorado Senator Cory Gardner (R) teamed up to announce the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act (STATES). According to Gardner, the bill will 'ensure that each state has the right to determine for itself the best approach to marijuana within its borders. The bill also extends these protections to Washington, D.C, U.S. territories, and federally recognized tribes, and contains common-sense guardrails to ensure that states, territories and tribes regulating marijuana do so safely.'
"President Trump appears to be all in on the bill. Before jetting off to the G-7 summit in Canada, he told reporters, 'I support Senator Gardner. I know exactly what he's doing. We're looking at it. But I probably will end up supporting that, yes.'"
Against| Read My Position
Other, 2023
Trump has not specifically addressed means testing in recent years. However, he generally opposes changes to Social Security. in January 2023 he said, "Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security." In March 2023 he said, "We’re not going back to people that want to destroy our great social security system, even some in our own party."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2018
"The Democrats' socialist 'Medicare for All' plan would devastate the American healthcare market and lead to higher taxes."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by allowing citizens to opt into Medicare if they so choose?
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"They say walls don't work. Walls work 100 percent. Whether it's El Paso - I really was smiling, because the other night I was in El Paso - we had a tremendous crowd, and - tremendous crowd. And I asked the people - many of whom were from El Paso, but they came from all over Texas. And I asked them. I said, 'Let me ask you, as a crowd: When the wall went up, was it better?' You were there, some of you. It was not only better; it was like 100 percent better."
For| Read My Position
"The drug cartels are waging war on America—and it’s now time for America to wage war on the cartels. ... I will order the Department of Defense to make appropriate use of special forces, cyber warfare, and other overt and covert actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure, and operations."
Against| Read My Position
Trump has called for a pause on aid to Ukraine due to allegations of corruption in the Biden administration.
He also said, "Joe Biden should not be dragging us further toward World War III by sending cluster munitions to Ukraine — he should be trying to END the war and stop the horrific death and destruction being caused by an incompetent administration."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support increasing federal enforcement of organized retail crime?
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2018
"On October 26, 2017, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies to use all lawful means to combat the drug demand and opioid crisis. He also directed the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to declare the crisis a Public Health Emergency.
'We are already distributing nearly $1 billion in grants for addiction prevention and treatment, and more than $50 million to support law enforcement programs that assist those facing prison and facing addiction,' the President said before signing the memorandum. 'We have also launched an $81 million partnership to research better pain management techniques for our incredible veterans.
The President's proposed Federal Budget requests $3 billion in new funding in 2018 and $10 billion in 2019 for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to combat the opioid epidemic by expanding access to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. The funding would also go toward addressing mental health concerns."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2017
"Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!"
For| Read My Position
"If it's a security situation and if they're saying we need this - there are checks and balances. There are certain checks and balances. You just can't do exactly what some people are saying you can. But I think we have to err on the side of security. It's certainly not something I like, certainly not what you like. When you have all these maniacs all over the world, I think we probably have to go that little bit of an extra step."
Other| Read My Position
"Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that it is 'very unlikely' he would pardon himself if he wins another term in 2024, adding in an exclusive interview with NBC 'Meet the Press' moderator Kristen Welker that he believes he did nothing wrong.
"'I think it’s very unlikely. What, what did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything wrong,' Trump said. 'You mean because I challenge an election, they want to put me in jail?'"
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024
Do you support presidential action to bar asylum-seekers from staying in the United States before their court date?
Other| Read My Position
On his website Trump said, "Under my policy, the United States government will tell Big Pharma that we will only pay the best price they offer to foreign nations, who have been taking advantage of us for so long— the United States is tired of getting ripped off." As president, Trump issued a similar Executive Order, although the order was challenged in court.
Other| Read My Position
In his 2000 book "The America We Deserve", Trump voiced support for private Social Security accounts. However, at the November 2015 Politics and Eggs forum, he said, "My plan is to leave Social Security alone. What we're going to do is get rid of the fraud, abuse and waste."
Against| Read My Position
Trump has not specifically addressed the cap on income subject to the Social Security tax. However, he generally opposes tax increases and has criticized Republicans for plans to reform Social Security. In January 2023 he said, "Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security."
Against| Read My Position
At the 2023 CPAC Trump criticized fellow Republicans for their plans to raise the retirement age, saying, "We’re not going back to people that want to destroy our great social security system, even some in our own party, I wonder who that might be, that want to raise the minimum age of social security to 70, 75, or even 80 in some cases."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2023
Should the federal government combat inflation by raising taxes to reduce the budget deficit?
For| Read My Position
"We should have voter I.D. We should have one-day elections. We should have paper ballots, instead of these mail-in votes."
No Response
Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2023
Should the federal government combat inflation by repealing or revising the Jones Act to allow more foreign involvement in shipping between U.S. ports?
For| Read My Position
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2019
"Today, I signed into law the 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act,' which enacts new sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. I favor tough measures to punish and deter bad behavior by the rogue regimes in Tehran and Pyongyang. I also support making clear that America will not tolerate interference in our democratic process, and that we will side with our allies and friends against Russian subversion and destabilization.
"That is why, since taking office, I have enacted tough new sanctions on Iran and North Korea, and shored up existing sanctions on Russia.
"...Still, the bill remains seriously flawed - particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch's authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking. By limiting the Executive's flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people, and will drive China, Russia, and North Korea much closer together. The Framers of our Constitution put foreign affairs in the hands of the President. This bill will prove the wisdom of that choice.
"Yet despite its problems, I am signing this bill for the sake of national unity. It represents the will of the American people to see Russia take steps to improve relations with the United States. We hope there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues so that these sanctions will no longer be necessary."
Against| Read My Position
Other| Read My Position
Other, 2019
In 2015, Trump said, "That's probably one of the only things the government shouldn't make money off - I think it's terrible that one of the only profit centers we have is student loans."
However, Trump has not taken significant action on student loans, and there has been some controversy over the issue in his administration.
In 2018 Seth Frotman, the student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, published a scathing resignation letter that said, "the Bureau has abandoned the very consumers it is tasked by Congress with protecting. Instead, you have used the Bureau to serve the wishes of the most powerful financial companies in America."
Against| Read My Position
"We have to lower interest rates. Interest rates are through the roof."
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2016
"I will not support or endorse a carbon tax!"
For| Read My Position
"Former President Donald Trump predicted the U.S. will become 'officially, a THIRD WORLD NATION' when the Covid-era Title 42 immigration policy expires next week, he said on Truth Social"
Against| Read My Position
Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2015
"The Trans-Pacific Partnership is an attack on America's business. It does not stop Japan's currency manipulation. This is a bad deal."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Facebook Page, 2019
"End the nuclear deal with Iran and the ransom payments to the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism."
For| Read My Position
Candidate's Website, 2017
"The Paris Climate Accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers - who I love - and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories, and vastly diminished economic production."
Voting Record
HR 195 (2018)
Stopped a federal government shutdown by funding the government through February 8, 2018. This bill also extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. This bill does not include an extension of the immigration program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or any other immigration-related policy.
S 139 (2018)
Extends so-called "section 702" surveillance by the NSA under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
S 2155 (2018)
Eases some of the financial regulations of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
HR 2 (2018)
"Farm bill" that authorizes a variety of agriculutral programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The final version of this bill did not include stricter work requirements for SNAP, as originally proposed. The bill also legalizes industrial hemp.
S 756 (2018)
Makes various reforms to the criminal justice system, such as mandating de-escalation training for correctional officers, improving feminine hygiene for prisoners, and adding more leniency to sentences for non-violent offenders.
S J Res 34 (2017)
Overtuns a rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that requires all internet browsing and app usage data be subject to the same privacy requirements as private personal information. The FCC rule is stricter than previous regulations, which had various privacy requirements depending on the sensitivity of the online information.
H J Res 43 (2017)
Allows states to withhold federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
H J Res 42 (2017)
Effectively allows states to drug test anybody claiming unemployment benefits or food stamps.
S 114 (2017)
Continues the Veterans Choice Program, which pays for veterans to use private health care providers instead of the VA.
