Trump’s Mixed Reactions to Project 2025
Donald Trump has shown a nuanced stance toward Project 2025, a policy agenda crafted by the Heritage Foundation. While he has praised some aspects as “very conservative and very good,” he initially dismissed parts of the 900-page initiative during his 2024 presidential campaign, labeling them as “ridiculous and abysmal.”
In July, Trump took to Truth Social to express his disapproval, stating, “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.”
However, following his recognition as Time magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year, Trump softened his tone in an interview, acknowledging the alignment of certain proposals with conservative principles. “I don’t disagree with everything in Project 2025,” he noted. “They have some things that are very conservative and very good. But I didn’t want to read it because I wanted to maintain distance and say I had nothing to do with it.”
Trump also criticized the timing of the document’s release, suggesting it had complicated his campaign efforts. “It was foolish to release it before the election,” he commented.
Connections to Project 2025
Despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself from Project 2025, several individuals associated with the initiative have been considered for roles in his potential second administration. Russ Vought, a contributor to Project 2025 and former director of the Office of Management and Budget, has been nominated to return to that position. His work involved strategies to increase presidential authority and reduce the influence of career civil servants.
Similarly, Brendan Carr, author of the Federal Communications Commission section of Project 2025, is among Trump’s nominees. Other former officials like Tom Homan, John Ratcliffe, Pete Hoekstra, and Paul Atkins, who have ties to the project, have also been named for key roles.
Stephen Miller, a major figure in Trump’s administration, contributed to the initiative through his organization, America First Legal.
Democrats have cited Trump’s Cabinet selections as evidence of his alignment with Project 2025. During a September debate, Vice President Kamala Harris described the plan as “a dangerous agenda” Trump aims to implement, a claim he denied.
Tony Carrk, executive director of the watchdog group Accountable.US, contended that Trump’s appointments signal a commitment to the initiative’s objectives. “Within the first 180 days, Project 2025 aims to undermine reproductive rights, favor billionaires over working-class Americans, and dismantle key investments. Trump is assembling a team to deliver on that agenda,” Carrk stated.
In contrast, Republican strategist John Feehery minimized the document’s impact, asserting, “Trump isn’t an ideologue, and Project 2025 isn’t driving his administration. He surrounds himself with loyalists of varying ideologies, not policy purists.”
Trump’s Stance Moving Forward
Karoline Leavitt, a Trump spokesperson, reiterated that Trump had no involvement with Project 2025. “The American people re-elected President Trump to implement his campaign promises, not someone else’s agenda. His Cabinet picks reflect his commitment to putting America First,” she said.
As Trump readies for a potential second term, questions persist regarding the influence Project 2025 will have on his administration’s policies.
