What is Project 2025? The Presidential blueprint Donald Trump is distancing himself from

Donald Trump is under fire again and it’s not because of his opinions on aliens or claims that he liked the idea of 'executing people' - but due to Project 2025. The former POTUS recently denied his involvement in and having knowledge of Project 2025. However, comments from Trump allies have come around to bite him in the back.

Many fear that Project 2025 is what the US would look like if Trump gets re-elected in 2024 - with President Biden and Democrats using it against Trump in their election campaign.

What is Project 2025?

Project 2025 is an initiative consisting of four key components: a policy guide for the upcoming presidential administration, a personnel database, training through the ‘Presidential Administration Academy,’ and a 180-day action plan for the new administration.

The project is led by Paul Dans (Director) and Spencer Chretien (Associate Director), both former Trump administration officials, and is spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation with support from over 100 conservative groups.

A major focus of Project 2025 is its extensive policy guide, ‘Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise’ - which outlines proposed changes across the federal government. This guide continues the legacy of a similar document first released in 1981 for Ronald Reagan’s administration, featuring contributions from notable former Trump-era officials like Russ Vought, Chris Miller, and Roger Severino. According to CBS News, Trump adopted 64% of The Heritage Foundation's previous recommendations during his first term.

Policies in the guide

The 900-page policy guide also includes agendas like less federal intervention in education, increased support for school choice, and stricter immigration enforcement, including the construction of a border wall. Social issues addressed in the guide advocates the reversal of the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, reinstating a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and endorsing a ‘biblically based’ definition of marriage.

Additionally, the guide suggests restructuring several federal agencies, such as downsizing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and dismantling the Department of Homeland Security. It proposes the creation of a new Cabinet-level agency for border and immigration matters and calls for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the federal government.

John McEntee, a senior advisor to the Heritage Foundation, mentioned plans to ‘integrate a lot of our work’ with the Trump campaign when official transition efforts begin. Critics have linked Project 2025 to Trump's reelection campaign due to its ties with former Trump officials.

What has Donald Trump said about Project 2025?

After being tied to Project 2025 repeatedly over the past few weeks, Trump took to his Truth Social app on Friday, July 5 and denied all associations with the Project despite some damning evidence for it, reports Newsweek. In a post, he wrote:

I know nothing about Project 2025. 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.

This came as a surprise contrast to what Kevin Roberts, current President of the Heritage Foundation, said about Project 2025 and Trump. In February, Kevin said that Trump and his administration could take credit for Project 2025 if he’s re-elected again. Meanwhile, a former White House adviser to Mike Pence, Olivia Troye labeled Trump’s disassociation from the project as ‘preposterous.’ Olivia claimed that a lot of people behind Project 2025 ‘served in Trump’s cabinet during his administration,’ writes The Guardian. She added:

I think what this is telling us is that Donald Trump knows that what is written in this plan is so extreme that it is damaging to his possibility of getting elected, and that’s what he’s concerned about.

A section of this article was created with the help of Artificial Intelligence.

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Sources Used

CBS News: What is Project 2025? What to know about the conservative blueprint for a second Trump administration

Newsweek: Donald Trump Allies' Project 2025 Comments Resurface after He Denies Role

The Guardian: Republicans call Trump’s move to distance himself from Project 2025 ‘preposterous’