In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of Democratic policies, asserting that he will restore voters’ financial security, safety, and freedom. However, a closer examination reveals that Trump has, at times, supported the very policies he now denounces, creating a complex narrative as he seeks to rally support.
One notable instance occurred following a tragic helicopter and plane collision on January 29, 2025, which resulted in 67 fatalities. Trump attributed the accident to diversity hiring policies implemented by previous administrations, particularly those aimed at increasing the hiring of individuals with disabilities. Ironically, during his own presidency, Trump maintained a similar diversity hiring initiative within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which aimed to recruit individuals with disabilities. In fact, the FAA announced a program in 2019 focused on hiring air traffic controllers from targeted disability groups, continuing the practices established during the Obama administration.
Trump’s stance on TikTok also illustrates his shifting positions. While he criticized President Biden for wanting to ban the app, he had previously sought to do the same during his first term, signing an executive order in 2020 aimed at prohibiting TikTok due to national security concerns. In a dramatic reversal, Trump claimed in 2024, "We love TikTok. I’m going to save TikTok," despite his earlier efforts to impose a ban.
The former president’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, recently blamed the Biden administration for rising egg prices, attributing the issue to the mass culling of chickens. However, this practice is a standard response to outbreaks of bird flu and was also part of the USDA’s protocols during Trump’s administration, which included similar measures to control disease spread.
Trump has also taken aim at the Biden administration regarding the allocation of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, claiming that $1 billion was misappropriated for immigration purposes. This accusation overlooks Trump’s own administration’s reallocation of FEMA funds in 2019 for immigration programs, highlighting a contradiction in his criticisms.
The issue of transgender care in federal prisons has also surfaced in Trump’s rhetoric. He criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for supporting gender-affirming surgery for inmates, despite the fact that his administration recognized the need to provide medical care for transgender individuals in federal custody, including potential surgical needs.
Additionally, Trump has accused the Biden administration of evicting hurricane survivors from temporary housing in North Carolina, a claim that has been rated mostly false. FEMA’s eligibility criteria for temporary housing, which were established during Trump’s presidency, also required regular reviews of participants’ situations, similar to the policies currently in place.
As Trump campaigns for the presidency again, his approach reflects a strategy of framing himself as a savior from the policies he once endorsed, creating a narrative that may resonate with voters while raising questions about the consistency of his positions.