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A deep dive into the 2024 election: Harris vs. Trump
PBS’ Frontline presents a compelling documentary
For those still on the fence this election season, PBS’ Frontline is set to premiere “The Choice 2024: Harris vs. Trump” on Tuesday evening. This two-hour documentary delves into the lives and ideologies of the two major candidates through a blend of investigative journalism and interviews.
The legacy of “The Choice”
This latest installment continues the tradition of “The Choice,” a special election-year series that has been a staple on Frontline every presidential election since 1988. Directed by Michael Kirk, a veteran chronicler of Washington politics, this edition promises to be as insightful as its predecessors.
“This series is all about uncovering the life philosophies of each candidate and comparing their journeys,” says Kirk.
A comprehensive narrative
“The Choice 2024” draws from numerous interviews with friends, advisors, and critics of both Harris and Trump. Kirk also spoke with authors, journalists, and political insiders to weave a detailed narrative of each candidate’s life, tracing their paths from childhood to their current political standing.
“Regardless of whether you’ve made up your mind, it’s crucial to understand who you’re voting for,” says Frontline executive producer Raney Aronson-Rath. “It’s about knowing their beliefs, origins, and values.”
The making of “The Choice 2024”
In early July, Kirk and Aronson-Rath screened a four-hour cut of the documentary featuring Trump and President Joe Biden. However, the landscape shifted when Harris announced her 2024 campaign on July 21.
“There was no official documentary or definitive biography about Harris,” Kirk explains. “Our archivist was skeptical about how we could create an hour-long segment on her life in just seven weeks. But we did it.”
Kamala Harris: A journey of resilience
To capture Harris’ journey from 1960s Berkeley to her rise as a prosecutor, her entry into California politics, and her tenure in Washington, D.C., the team interviewed her childhood friends, college classmates, advisors, and journalists who have covered her career.
“Kamala Harris demands respect. If it’s not given to her, she demands it,” says Lateefah Simon, who worked for Harris when she was the San Francisco District Attorney.
Donald Trump: A quest for victory
The documentary also chronicles Trump’s path from New York real estate to entertainment and politics. It features interviews from his 2016 campaign days to the present, including insights from his niece, business associates, biographers, and White House advisors.
“For Donald Trump, this is a chance to go out as the winner he believes he must be,” says biographer Marc Fisher.
The fighters’ narrative
While the 2020 edition of “The Choice” focused on crisis, the 2024 installment centers on the theme of fighters. In the opening sequence, Frontline narrator Will Lyman states:
“In a nation divided, two very different candidates face off. A vice president with a meteoric rise who shattered barriers along the way. A former president with decades in the spotlight, always determined to be the winner at any cost. Two fighters. One seeking vindication, promising a return to greatness. The other seeking to move beyond the past, promising a great future.”
“Midway through the rough cut, it struck me that both Harris and Trump are fighters,” says Aronson-Rath. “They fight for very different ideas and policies, but their life methods are strikingly similar. For Trump, it’s about looking back at America and fighting for that vision. For Kamala Harris, it’s about the present and the future.”
Watch the trailer
Premiere details
“The Choice 2024” premieres on PBS and will be available for streaming on YouTube, Frontline’s website, and the PBS App starting Tuesday. The film will also be accessible on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel.
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