Former President Donald Trump has rejected “Project 2025,” a policy brief created by the head of a conservative think tank, claiming in a Truth Social post on Friday morning that he had nothing to do with the plan.
“I know nothing about Project 2025 or who is behind it. I don't agree with some of what they say and some of it is totally ridiculous and disgusting. I wish them the best of luck in whatever they do, but I have no affiliation with them,” Trump wrote about the effort spearheaded by Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts.
Many of President Trump's critics have used Project 2025 as a cudgel against him, and the Democratic Party establishment appears to be shifting its messaging to a campaign that highlights policy predictions in response to Biden's debate performance. (Related: Poll: Trump more than doubles lead over Biden since debate)
Biden's Website Layout The campaign calls the project a “920-page plan to give Trump even more authority over everyday life, destroy democratic checks and balances, and consolidate power in the Oval Office.”
Biden's website argues, among other things, that the bill would restrict reproductive rights. Trump has repeatedly denied plans to restrict Americans' access to abortion, arguing that it's a states' rights issue. During a CNN debate in June, Trump voiced support for the Supreme Court's decision not to ban access to the abortion pill.
Hillary Clinton also spoke out about Project 2025, calling it “the MAGA Movement's plan to consolidate power and control over the daily lives of Americans under a re-elected Trump Administration” in a tweet on Wednesday.
Project 2025 is the MAGA movement's plan to consolidate power and control over the daily lives of Americans under a re-elected Trump administration.
Think I'm exaggerating? Read it for yourself.https://t.co/N4G4FOqUXK pic.twitter.com/iFa5GtZeIv
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 3, 2024
Mentions of Project 2025 also surged in the days following the debate, with the phrase being mentioned 200 times per hour on Reddit following the debate, according to an analysis by the Reddit Lies Twitter account.
The hysteria around Project 2025 is a disinformation campaign designed to scare people into voting for Biden.
Following Biden's dismal debate performance last week, the “Defeat Project 2025” Reddit bot saw a fourfold increase in activity. pic.twitter.com/P1uGy8VagD
— Reddit Lies (@reddit_lies) July 3, 2024
Project 2025 representatives insist that it is not a plan specific to Trump, but rather a set of recommendations aimed at any conservative president.
“As we have said for over two years, Project 2025 does not represent any particular candidate or campaign. We are a coalition of over 110 conservative organizations providing policy and personnel recommendations to the next conservative president. Ultimately, however, it will be up to the president, likely to be Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement,” a Project 2025 spokesperson told The Daily Caller.
“Instead of obsessing over Project 2025, the Biden team should address the 25th Amendment,” the spokesperson concluded.
