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The first Republican primary debate today effectively marks the beginning of the 2024 race for the presidency, but polling indicates the contest remains a two horse race. Although 14 candidates have declared their bid for the GOP nomination, Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis remain the closest rivals.

On the issue of firearms and gun ownership, Mr. DeSantis has sought to roll back restrictions, while Mr. Trump has a more complex history. DeSantis is pushing legislation in Florida to allow residents to carry concealed firearms in public without a permit or training requirements. Mr. Trump has voiced support for tougher checks on firearms purchasers, but later dropped this stance. He has also received praise for putting conservative judges on the federal bench who are inclined to protect gun rights.

In terms of illegal migration into the US, DeSantis takes a tougher line than Trump. DeSantis wants a completed border wall and has signed into law an extensive crackdown on unlawful immigration in Florida. Trump has also vowed to end “birthright citizenship” and proposed the death penalty for human traffickers.

Both DeSantis and Trump are opposed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia, with neither seeing the war as a vital interest for the US. However, DeSantis previously supported sending weapons to Ukraine and criticized Vladimir Putin, while Trump defended Putin and criticized DeSantis’s comments.

On the issue of NATO, DeSantis has played down the Russian threat and called for European members to increase their spending. Trump has suggested a cooler approach towards the alliance and a reevaluation of NATO’s purpose and mission.

As the 2024 race for the Republican nomination heats up, Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis stand as the leading contenders, each with their own stances on key issues that will shape the campaign.

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