Trump’s spectacle is no match for Harris’s substance

This election isn’t just another political match — it’s a reckoning. 

For years, Donald Trump has masqueraded as the champion of the working class, a man of the people with a golden touch for business and so-called "common-sense" solutions. 

But let’s be real: The Trump campaign is a fraud. His faux populism is nothing more than a cynical con, wrapped in flag-waving theatrics and reality TV spectacle. While he posed for photo ops and riled up his base, his policies gutted protections for everyday Americans and padded the pockets of the ultra-wealthy.

Kamala Harris, meanwhile, couldn’t offer a clearer contrast. She represents real leadership: substantive policies that lift people. Harris isn’t performing patriotism for the cameras like Trump — she’s delivering it through action. She’s fighting for a future where every family has a shot at prosperity, not just those born into wealth. 

The choice couldn’t be clearer: real patriotism versus fake populism, real solutions versus hollow spectacle.

Take reproductive rights, for instance. Trump claims to be a defender of freedom, but that freedom doesn’t extend to a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. 

Under his leadership, and with the help of his Republican allies, abortion rights have been systematically rolled back, culminating in the gutting of Roe v. Wade. The consequences are devastating: Women across the country, particularly in marginalized communities, are losing access to safe and legal abortions. While Trump weaponizes women’s bodies for political gain, Kamala Harris stands firm as a champion of abortion rights. Her fight for the right of every woman to have autonomy over her healthcare isn’t just rhetoric — it’s grounded in real policy and action.

Then there’s the economy — another area where the contrast between Harris and Trump couldn’t be greater. 

Under Trump, the national debt ballooned by $7.8 trillion, all while he cut taxes for the top 1 percent and large corporations. His tax plan wasn’t some populist victory for working Americans — it was a massive giveaway to the wealthy. 

Kamala Harris, on the other hand, supports raising the federal minimum wage and has praised states with $15 per hour minimum wages, which would benefit nearly 40 million workers if applied across the nation. That’s what real populism looks like — putting money in the pockets of the people who need it most, not the rich.

And let’s talk about Social Security. Trump has proposed cuts to this vital program to finance more tax breaks for the wealthy, while Harris has been steadfast in her commitment to protect it. 

These aren’t just numbers — they are real people, our parents and grandparents, who rely on Social Security to retire with dignity. Harris understands that protecting this program is not just smart policy — it’s a moral obligation.

Healthcare offers another clear distinction. Trump spent four years dismantling the Affordable Care Act, jeopardizing the health coverage of millions without offering any real alternative. His promises of a better healthcare system never materialized, while insurance premiums and prescription drug costs soared. 

Harris, by contrast, has fought relentlessly to expand the ACA, helping ensure that 20 million more Americans have health coverage. The Biden-Harris administration also championed capping insulin prices for seniors at $35 a month — a tangible difference for families across the country. 

And when it comes to Medicare, Harris is committed to protecting it from cuts. Trump’s attempts to undermine Medicare to fund his tax giveaways to the wealthy is another example of how his policies hurt everyday Americans.

Then there’s infrastructure. For four years, Trump promised us "Infrastructure Week," which quickly became a punchline in Washington as nothing ever got done. 

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris and the Democrats delivered the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, rebuilding roads and bridges across the country while creating millions of good-paying jobs. This is progress that’s rebuilding communities and revitalizing the economy, not just serving as a backdrop for a political stunt.

Trump’s brand of populism is a charade. He wraps himself in the flag while systematically undermining the very systems that protect working Americans. His presidency was a boon to the rich and powerful, but a bust for the middle class. His patriotism is performative — he waves the flag while failing to back it up with policies that help ordinary Americans.

Kamala Harris represents a vision of America that is built on action, not a show. She’s fighting to ensure that families can afford healthcare, workers earn a living wage and seniors retire with dignity. 

She understands that real patriotism isn’t just about loud speeches and flashy rallies — it’s about building a future where every family, not just the wealthy few, has a shot at prosperity.

This election is a choice between hollow promises and real leadership. Between Trump’s chaos and Harris’s commitment to making life better for all Americans. 

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the choice couldn’t be clearer. 

Michael Starr Hopkins is the host of “It Matters with Michael Starr Hopkins.”