Trump vs Harris: 20 facts that might surprise you

That Donald Trump will take on Kamala Harris instead of Joe Biden in the political fight of 2024 is no longer news. But we bet you didn't know these fascinating facts about Trump and Harris yet.

Be sure to read on to the end, because we saved the best for last!

Donald Trump: more than the brand

We all know that ‘The Donald’ is larger than life, but there is much more to say about him than his real estate empire and extensive Twitter history. Here are a few surprising facts you probably didn't expect:

1. He wanted to be a professional baseball player

Trump played first base for the New York Military Academy's varsity team and dreamed of a career in Major League Baseball. Imagine: Trump as a Yankee instead of president...

2. He is a WWE Hall of Famer

Not many politicians can say they were literally knocked to the ground on national television. But Donald Trump can. He is the first president ever to take part in a WWE ‘conflict’ (in which he got into a fight with WWE owner Vince McMahon). And in 2013, Donald was even inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

3. He doesn't drink alcohol

For a man who has spent his life in environments where champagne flows copiously, it may seem surprising that Trump is teetotal. Yet it is not, as his elder brother Fred Jr. died of alcohol addiction. This tragedy made Donald decide to stop drinking completely.

4. He has (co-)written around 20 books

His most famous is “The Art of the Deal”, although Trump has published many more books. Think Like a Champion’, “Trump: How to Get Rich”, “Trump 101: The Way to Success”, “Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again”, and so on. Yep, you can tell he is a fan of a particular theme...

5. He has a star on Hollywood Boulevard... which keeps getting vandalized

Since 2007, Trump has his own shiny star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, something most actors and musicians can only dream of. But it is one of the stars that is most often damaged. Could his previous tenure have something to do with that?

6. Trump doesn't need alcohol – fast food, on the other hand…

When you are worth billions, you can dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant every day. Trump, however, is said to prefer golden arches to golden plates and allegedly suffers from a fast food addiction. In any case, his preference for Big Macs and KFC influenced the White House menu during his presidency.

7. What about the ‘dressing room incident’ during the Miss USA pageant?

Trump was criticised during his time as co-owner of the Miss USA pageant for allegedly entering the contestants' dressing rooms without permission while they were changing. That controversy has haunted him for a long time.

8. Trump has several cameos in films and TV shows

Before The Apprentice, Trump was regularly seen on both the small and big screen. You may remember the scene in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (he showed Macauley Culkin aka Kevin McCallister the way in his Plaza Hotel) or from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, though you may not have known that he got to appear in dozens of films and TV series.

9. He is a collector of famous paintings

Trump loves (expensive) art and owns works by renowned artists such as Renoir and Chagall, which are displayed in his various real estate properties – and of course there are some.

10. Trump is a germaphobe

Shaking hands is a part of politics, but Trump is definitely not a fan of it. He has admitted to suffering from a fear of germs, which may explain why he prefers to ‘fist bump’. Disinfectant hand gel is undoubtedly on his rider when he tours.

Kamala Harris: lots of love, but also criticism

On to Kamala Harris, who has already made history as the first female black South Asian vice-president. But we can also report some surprising facts about her:

1. Kamala is a ‘plus mom’

Although she has no biological children, Harris is stepmother to two children, Cole and Ella, from Doug Emhoff's previous marriage. They affectionately call her ‘Momala’.

2. Harris is a self-proclaimed foodie

Harris once let slip that if she had not entered politics, she might have opened a restaurant. Her culinary preferences include Indian and ‘southern’ comfort food, and she has even published recipes with which she is only too happy to share her passion for ‘multicultural cooking’.

3. She is a fan of European cooking programmes

You would think that a busy bee like Harris would not have time to watch TV, but apparently, she does. These include watching The Great British Bake Off and certain French cooking programmes, proving once again that she is curious about different culinary customs and habits.

4. Harris and her love for a (much) older politician

Certain critics suggest that Harris used intimate contacts to boost her political career. Her relationship with Willie Brown, 31 years her senior and later to become mayor of San Francisco, has been particularly controversial. Although it is now known that Brown had already left his wife during their relationship, their relationship still sticks to Harris.

5. ... and for Converse trainers

Anyone who incorporates “politician” and “sneakers” in one sentence will spontaneously think of Conner Rousseau in Flanders, while in the US they will probably think of Kamala Harris. After all, she is often spotted in Converse Chuck Taylor trainers, which have become part of her signature look.

6. ... and for reggae

In a now-famous interview, Harris revealed her love for Bob Marley and reggae music in general. According to many, her taste in music perfectly suits her laid-back yet sharp personality. ‘One Love’, it could have been her election slogan...

7. ... but also for jazz

Harris grew up with jazz music, thanks to her parents, and by listening to jazz a lot, she says she learned how to improvise. Which of course comes in very handy during political debates.

8. Harris was friends with Prince!

In the 1990s, Kamala Harris was introduced to Prince, the late pop star, and it turned into a friendship. They shared an interest in social justice and activism, she explained afterwards.

9. Harris was widely criticised for her strict prosecution policies

As California attorney general, Harris was criticised for her handling of certain cases, especially those involving non-violent drug offences. Her policies had a ‘disproportionate impact on marginalised communities’, it is still claimed from certain quarters, which has already raised questions about her approach to criminal justice reform.

10. Harris, too, has written several books

Like Trump, Harris has also spent time behind the keyboard, resulting in “Smart on Crime”, a memoir titled “The Truths We Hold”, and a children's book called “Superheroes Are Everywhere”.

Who will be knocked out in November?

Whether you belong to ‘team Trump’ or ‘team Harris’, there is no denying that these two candidates have led interesting lives. And November will be extra interesting, because that's when we'll know who wins the presidential election.

By the way, that result could mean good news for you too, as you can place your bets on this exciting election battle via Goldenpalacesports.be. Look for "Specials" in the menu or simply click on the button below (if only to see who is currently favourite) 👇