Five Facts to Know About the 2024 Republican National Committee Platform

Five Facts to Know About the 2024 Republican National Committee Platform

Party platforms are a standard and traditional part of national conventions. Party regulars, the media, and voters look to see what gets in and what gets left out of the document. The platform is important—the party is telling voters this is what we believe, and this is what we will do. On the other hand, presidents rarely feel bound by what was in their party platform.

The 2024 Republican platform represents a party in transition, with new priorities, changing ideology, and a nominee, Donald Trump, who is determined to shake up the status quo. His team dominated the drafting of the platform—and they kept it short with more messaging than detailed policy prescriptions. It is likely a new format that will be embraced by both parties moving forward.

Here are five facts to know about the 2024 Republican platform: 

1. THE SUMMARY IS SHORT AND DIRECT—ON PURPOSE 

In 2020, the Republican Party Platform was 66 pages of policy, some of which former President Trump did not agree with. In 2024, there is hardly any daylight between the platform and the ideals of President Trump. The platform is even written in a way that reflects Trump’s personal style. The brevity is on purpose, designed to reflect on promises that can be kept easily and quickly in what would be a final Trump administration. The agenda, which was adopted 84 to 18 begins with twenty promises that the Republican Party looks to accomplish very quickly “when we win the White House and Republican Majorities in the House and Senate”: 

• Seal the border, and stop the migrant invasion.
• Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.
• End inflation, and make America affordable again.
• Make America the dominant energy producer in the world, by far!
• Stop outsourcing, and turn the United States into a manufacturing superpower.
• Large tax cuts for workers, and no tax on tips!
• Defend our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.
• Prevent World War Three, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East, and build a great iron dome missile defense shield over our entire country—all made in America.
• End the weaponization of government against the American people.
• Stop the migrant crime epidemic, demolish the foreign drug cartels, crush gang violence, and lock up violent offenders.
• Rebuild our cities, including Washington DC, making them safe, clean, and beautiful again.
• Strengthen and modernize our military, making it, without question, the strongest and most powerful in the world.
• Keep the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.
• Fight for and protect Social Security and Medicare with no cuts, including no changes to the retirement age.
• Cancel the electric vehicle mandate and cut costly and burdensome regulations.
• Cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.
• Keep men out of women’s sports.
• Deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.
• Secure our elections, including same day voting, voter identification, paper ballots, and proof of citizenship.
• Unite our country by bringing it to new and record levels of success. 

2. DONALD TRUMP WANTS THE GOP TO BE UNEQUIVOCALLY ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT 

In 2024, there is no doubt the Republican Party has fully embraced Trump, who believes Washington has become out of touch with voters. This was clear in the way the Republican National Committee ran its convention, featuring more celebrities and people who represented the counterculture and fewer politicians who embraced the Washington establishment. This was also articulated in who was not there, including former President Bush, Senator Mitt Romney (Utah), and former Vice President Mike Pence who were not invited.  

The party platform insists: “We are a Nation in SERIOUS DECLINE. Our future, our identity, and our very way of life are under threat like never before…For decades, our politicians sold our jobs and livelihoods to the highest bidders overseas with unfair Trade Deals and a blind faith in the siren song of globalism. They insulated themselves from criticism and the consequences of their own bad actions, allowing our Borders to be overrun, our cities to be overtaken by crime, our System of Justice to be weaponized, and our young people to develop a sense of hopelessness and despair.”

Part of the Republican nominee’s appeal to voters is that he’s not bound by the trappings of Washington, DC and instead will work to tackle the issues “real America” cares about. 

3. FRONT AND CENTER IS PROTECTING THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND DEPORTING MIGRANTS IN THE US ILLEGALLY

Policy comparisons were also book-ended with attempts to appeal to any self-identified “forgotten Americans,” perhaps a purposeful alignment with Vance’s focus in his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy and a key demographic of Trump’s base. One such example was the appearance and honoring of the Gold Star families whose military family members were killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, a pivotal point during the Biden administration where President Biden’s popularity declined. Another example occurred when the parents of an American held hostage by Hamas spoke and called for greater efforts to bring home our missing citizens. 

Republicans discovered a little over a decade ago that immigration is an issue that can drive voters to the polls. In 2023, governors in border states were able to further weaponize and politicize the issue by busing and shipping migrants into Democrat-led cities that did not sit on the southern border. While other states have to deal with undocumented immigration who arrive by other means, the influx of migrants caused mayors and governors to demand more action from Congress and the Biden administration. The Republican Party Platform expects to make good on the promise to secure the border with a few promises:  

• “The Republican Party is committed to sending Illegal Aliens back home and removing those who have violated our Laws.”
• “We must secure our Southern Border by completing the Border Wall that President Trump started.”
• “We will use all resources needed to stop the Invasion, including moving thousands of Troops currently stationed overseas to our own Southern Border.”
• “Before we defend the Borders of Foreign Countries, we must first secure the Border of our Country.” 

4. THE ECONOMIC AGENDA IS A MIX OF TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN FREE MARKET CAPITALISM AND NEW POPULISM

When surveyed, Americans say the economy and inflation are top of mind this election cycle. The cost of groceries, gas prices, and the general increase in the cost of living have contributed to Americans losing confidence in Biden’s handling of the economy. While inflation has cooled, the stock market has gone up, and economic indicators point towards a slow recovery, the Republican Party insists slashing regulation, lowering taxes on businesses, and other provisions like eliminating taxes on tips (just one example) will enhance recovery. Here are a few elements of the Republican platform that speak to free market capitalism and new populism:  

• “Republicans will make permanent the provisions of the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that doubled the standard deduction, expanded the Child Tax Credit, and spurred Economic Growth for all Americans. We will eliminate Taxes on Tips for millions of Restaurant and Hospitality Workers, and pursue additional Tax Cuts.”
• “Republicans will immediately stabilize the Economy by slashing wasteful Government spending.”
• “Republicans will reinstate President Trump’s Deregulation Policies.”
• “Republicans will unleash Energy Production from all sources, including nuclear, to immediately slash Inflation and power American homes, cars, and factories with reliable, abundant, and affordable Energy.”
• “Republicans will continue forging an America First Trade Policy…standing up to Countries that cheat and prioritizing American Producers over Foreign Outsourcers. We will bring our critical Supply Chains back home.”
• “Republicans will revoke China’s Most Favored Nation status, phase out imports of essential goods, and stop China from buying American Real Estate and Industries.”
• “President Trump has made absolutely clear that he will not cut one penny from Medicare or Social Security.” 

5. THE PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS CULTURE WARS BUT DOWNPLAYS ABORTION

Republicans have always leaned into cultural issues to win elections. Considered the party of “traditional family values,” Republicans have seized on issues like critical race theory, parental rights, and campaigns suggesting that transgender women are dangerous. Kari Lake, candidate for US Senate in Arizona, might have summed up the way this works best during her campaign for governor in 2022: “They kicked God out of schools and welcomed the drag queens.” She also insisted “they” took down the American flag and replaced it with a rainbow.

While historically, the Culture Wars have driven Republican’s to the polls, they’ve also created an opposing effect, driving Democrats to the polls too. While in Virginia the Democrats lost the governor’s race to Glen Youngkin, Republicans failed to give him a mandate in the state House. Every ballot initiative restricting abortion has failed. The 2024 RNC platform hints at understanding this and seizes on these issues by being vague on abortion and heavy on culture.  

• “We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments).”
• “Republicans Will Stop Woke and Weaponized Government.”
• “Republicans condemn antisemitism, and support revoking Visas of Foreign Nationals who support terrorism and jihadism.”
• “Republicans support the restoration of Classic Liberal Arts Education.”
• “Republicans will restore safety in our neighborhoods by replenishing Police Departments, restoring Common Sense Policing, and protecting Officers from frivolous lawsuits.”
• “Republicans will restore Parental Rights in Education.” 
• "Republicans will ensure children are taught fundamentals like Reading, History, Science, and Math, not Leftwing propaganda.”

For more on global elections in 2024, EGA Election HQ is your guide to the moments that matter, what comes next, and what all of this means for industries and sectors. For counsel or tow get in touch, reach out to Elections@edelmanEGA.com.