Topline
Former President Donald Trump distanced himself on Friday from Project 2025—a controversial package of conservative policy ideas by the Heritage Foundation—saying he knows “nothing about” the project that involves some former members of his administration, as President Joe Biden’s campaign highlights the agenda and criticizesrecent commentsby the Heritage Foundation leader on a “second American Revolution.”
Key Facts
Trump said in a Truth Social post he has “no idea who is behind” Project 2025, adding he disagrees with some of the project’s proposals for the next GOP administration and “some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.”
Trump went on to say: “Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
Project 2025, spearheaded by the conservativeHeritage Foundationthink tank, has been associated with Trump because two of itsthree directorsof the project served in Trump’s administration, as well as many of itspolicy agendacontributors.
The Biden-Harris campaign slammed Trump’s claims in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter,saying:“A desperate and lying Trump claims he knows ‘nothing’ about his Project 2025 agenda, even though his top aides are the ones behind the plan” —alsopostinga video of Trump speaking at a Heritage Foundation event.
The Trump campaign told Forbes the post is “very clear,” adding campaign officials “have been saying outside groups like Project 2025 do not reflect campaign strategy or policy for months,” referring Forbes to a Decembermemofrom senior campaign advisors Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles.
Project 2025 told Forbes in a statement it “does not speak for any candidate or campaign” but rather is a coalition of conservative groups “advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” which it believes will be Trump, going on to say: “Rather than obsessing over Project 2025, the Biden campaign should be addressing the 25th Amendment.”
Crucial Quote
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trumpsaidin Friday’s post. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”
Key Background
Project 2025, or the2025 Presidential Transition Project,has been framed as a “wish list”for a hypothetical GOP president in 2025—likely to be Trump. The initiative’s more than 900-page agenda, dubbed the “Mandate for Leadership,” waspublishedlast April, and hasdrawn attentionfor some of its conservative proposals. It recommends more direct presidential control of government agencies like the Department of Justice, increased funding for a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and removing abortion pill mifepristone from the market. Project 2025 has been heavily criticized by leading Democrats for its policy ideas, as well as recent comments from Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts which suggested America is in the midst of a second revolution that “will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”
Chief Critic
In mid-June, a group of Democratic Congressional leaderslaunchedthe Stop Project 2025 Task Force, which Robertsslammedin a statement, saying the project “will not be 'stopped' by an unserious, mistake-riddled press release or a task force of House Democrats lacking a basic understanding of federal governance.” The Biden campaign alsolaunchedan ad offensive against the initiative during last week’s Trump-Biden debate.
Further Reading
What Is Project 2025?(Time Magazine)
A conservative leading the pro-Trump Project 2025 suggests there will be a new American Revolution(The Associated Press)
Project 2025: The Trump presidency wish list, explained(BBC)
Scoop: Biden seizes debate limelight for "Project 2025" push(Axios)