Former President Donald Trump showcased a list of 20 campaign promises on Tuesday via his Truth Social post and website landing page takeover. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, his political counterpart, unveiled her agenda details only on Friday. Trump, known for his association with various platforms in the recent election cycle, released videos and statements titled Agenda47 in 2022, introducing his policy plans to the public.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) later released its official platform, which Trump endorsed along with "20 Core Promises to Make America Great Again." However, it's worth noting that these promises do not include some of the campaign trail tangents, like the mention of a 20% universal tariff made by Trump during a recent visit to North Carolina.

Political science professor Costas Panagopoulos from Northeastern University explains that policy platform and messaging changes are common in presidential elections. He states that today's platforms serve as a blueprint for the party's intentions, but should be taken with a grain of salt. Panagopoulos believes that Trump's scaled-back platform reflects his belief that these documents lack substantial power and that voters may not be deeply interested in policy intricacies, prompting him to simplify the message.

Trump began outlining his policy plans through videos and statements in 2022, facing primary season challenges from opponents such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. These plans covered various areas, including crime, education, healthcare, immigration, and the economy. Some attention-grabbing proposals, such as issuing the death sentence to drug dealers or creating a credentialing body for patriotic teachers, drew public attention. However, comprehensive coverage of issues such as healthcare was lacking.

While the Agenda47 landing pages on Trump's campaign websites were subsequently replaced by the RNC platform, traces of the Agenda47 plans still remain online. In April 2023, the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation published Project 2025, also known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. Democrats raised concerns about extreme policy proposals in the document, prompting Trump to distance himself from it. However, individuals involved in creating the playbook had ties to Trump and his first administration.

Despite differing in detail and scope, Project 2025 and the RNC platform shared various themes, such as border security, curbing transgender rights, and energy dominance. The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July adopted a platform that aligned with Trump's popular campaign points and embraced the "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Notably, the GOP platform sidestepped discussing abortion, suggesting that policy decisions on this matter should be left to individual states. Trump's 20 Core Promises were incorporated into the larger RNC 'Make America Great Again' platform, which the GOP introduced as a forward-looking agenda to be rapidly accomplished upon winning the White House and obtaining Republican Majorities in the House and Senate.

Trump highlighted this list of promises following an interview with Elon Musk on Monday. Throughout his political speeches, Trump has consistently criticized the Biden administration and launched personal attacks on Vice President Harris, despite some GOP leaders attempting to shift the focus onto her policies.

As for Harris, she recently began unveiling her policy agenda, starting with an economic plan announced at a rally in North Carolina. Her proposals included a federal ban on price gouging for food and groceries, financial assistance of up to $25,000 for first-time home buyers, and a tax incentive to encourage the construction of more starter homes.

While the rest of the Democratic platform has not been released yet, Panagopoulos mentions that they are typically adopted at the convention, contrasting with the Republican's strategy of endorsing their platforms ahead of their convention.

The evolution of Trump's platforms reflects the dynamic nature of political campaigns, with shifting priorities and messaging strategies. As the 2024 presidential race gains momentum, both Trump and Harris continue to articulate their policy visions, aiming to sway voters with their respective agendas.