Michigan elections FAQ: Where Trump, Harris stand on Israel, Ukraine, China

• Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have dominated foreign policy discussions in the U.S. presidential race
• Kamala Harris and Democrats support NATO and Ukraine, but the party is increasingly divided over the Israel-Hamas war
• Donald Trump and Republicans condemned the Biden-Harris approach to China and handling of ongoing wars

The issue: After the 2021 withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the U.S. was not directly involved in a foreign conflict for the first time in 20 years. Now, wars in Ukraine, Gaza and ongoing tensions with China dominate the foreign policy debate. 

Israel has been the nation’s top recipient of foreign aid since 1946, receiving $3.3 billion per year to purchase U.S. military equipment. But as humanitarian concerns continue to dominate discussion about the country’s ongoing war with Hamas, President Joe Biden’s administration has demanded Israel take action to reduce civilian casualties.

The U.S. has sent some $175 billion to Ukraine to defend itself against what NATO allies call “Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war of aggression.”

And the FBI deems China a “grave threat” to the United States because of “counterintelligence and economic espionage efforts,” and its efforts to “become the world’s greatest superpower through predatory lending and business practices, systematic theft of intellectual property and brazen cyber intrusions.”

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How is it important to Michigan: Michigan is a diverse state that is home to 300,000 residents of Arab descent, 105,000 Jews, 39,000 Ukrainian-Americans and 40,000 residents of Chinese descent.

At least 10,000 workers in Michigan are employed by more than 200 Chinese companies, and Michigan-based automakers including Ford and General Motors have extensive business interests in China. China heavily subsidizes its own manufacturing, and imposes severe restrictions on American businesses operating there.

In response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, major universities across the state have seen student encampments and protests calling for their schools to divest from companies profiting from the war. At the University of Michigan, pro-Palestinian activists were elected to the student government before cutting funding to services, contributing to outcry from Republican leaders.

Where Harris, Democrats stand: Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats broadly support NATO and continued aid to Ukraine. Harris and the Biden administration support Israel’s right to defend itself but have lamented the deaths of Palestinian civilians killed during the ongoing war with Hamas.

Democrats generally are in alignment with the president’s strategy of “managing competition” with China by fighting unfair trade practices with increased tariffs on some imports but continuing to do business with the superpower.

Democrats have traditionally supported Israel, but are increasingly divided on the war. A growing minority of House members wants to halt weapon sales to Israel, and the progressive wing of the party is demanding a ceasefire or opposes Israel’s invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. 

Opposition to the Biden-Harris administration’s policy on Israel led to an effort to vote “uncommitted” in the February presidential primary that netted more than 100,000 votes, far more than protest votes in 2016 and 2020 but far less than in 2008.

Retiring U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint and Rashida Tlaib of Detroit were the only Michigan Democrats to vote against $17 billion in defense aid for Israel and $9 billion for humanitarian aid in Gaza and elsewhere in April.

Harris has declined activist calls to impose an arms embargo on Israel but has met multiple times with Arab American leaders in Michigan.

The Biden-Harris administration has maintained the Trump administration’s positioning of America as the world’s strongest military power above China and Russia. As vice president, Harris reinforced the U.S.'s support of NATO at the Munich Security Conference February and promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued support against Russian forces in a September meeting.

Several military and diplomatic officials who served under Trump have publicly criticized his leadership, which Harris has argued is evidence that Trump is "unfit" to serve.  

Although Harris largely focuses on domestic issues during her rallies, she shared her desire to maintain the U.S.’s status as a dominant world power at the Democratic National Convention in August.

 “I will make sure that we lead the world into the future on space and artificial intelligence. That America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century and that we strengthen, not abdicate, our global leadership,” she said at the convention. “Trump, on the other hand, threatened to abandon NATO. He encouraged Putin to invade our allies. Said Russia could ‘do whatever the hell they want.’”

Where Trump, Republicans stand: Donald Trump and most Republicans are steadfast in support of Israel and critical of the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to China. 

As president, Trump imposed a series of tariffs on China as part of his “America First” economic policy and has promised to revoke its status as a most favored nation, which lowers trade barriers. Other Republicans are actively calling for regime change in China.

Republicans are more divided on a $60 billion aid package to Ukraine, as U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, was only one of six GOP House members from Michigan to favor it. 

While Trump has taken a more isolationist approach and criticized Biden’s handling of the war, he does not outright oppose aid to Ukraine but has spoken in favor of increased conditions on the support. 

Trump faced backlash from Democrats after the Sept. 10 debate for refusing to answer whether or not he wanted Ukraine to win the war, instead saying he wants the war to “be over.” Zelensky assured audiences last month that he and Trump had a “common view” on ending the war after a meeting.

As president, Trump in 2017 formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing decades of U.S. foreign policy in a move he called "a long overdue step to advance the peace process." He vowed to broker the "ultimate deal" between Israel and Palestine but did not do so before his term ended. 

Trump has also condemned the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of conflict in the Middle East, saying the Oct. 7 Hamas attack would not have happened if he were in office at the time. He has claimed at rallies that he wants to punish and deport “pro-Hamas radicals” protesting on college campuses and has warned Jewish voters  that “Israel will be eradicated” if he is not re-elected. 

“You wouldn't have had the war in Ukraine, you wouldn't have had it anywhere if I was president. If I was president you wouldn't have had that. You wouldn't have had October 7th with Israel,” Trump said at an Oct. 3 rally in Saginaw. 

“Now look at what's happening over there — the whole world is blowing up and the biggest threat we have is World War III.”

Read more:

• Council on Foreign Relations: The 2024 Candidates on Foreign Policy
• Reuters: Tougher tone on Israel, steady on NATO: how a Harris foreign policy could look
• Bridge: How Michigan schools are teaching the Israel-Hamas war (Very delicately) 
• Bridge: Michigan votes to disinvest from Russia. Doing so may be complicated
• Bridge: Michigan Republicans to China — Stop buying our farms. Experts: Threat overblown