Donald Trump has disclosed plans for a meeting with a key figure behind Project 2025, even though he spent much of 2024 trying to disassociate himself from the document.
This week, the 79-year-old seems to be aligning with the contentious conservative plan, which has previously been criticized by his 2024 presidential rival Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden.
Trump had previously criticized Project 2025, labeling its contents as ‘ridiculous and abysmal.’ However, he now seems to be reconsidering as he schedules a meeting with one of its contributors.
Here, we provide an overview of the political document and the perspectives of Democrats regarding it.
Project 2025 is a conservative agenda formulated by the Heritage Foundation, a research and educational organization in Washington.
The 900-page proposal aims to overhaul the federal government and penalize Democratic states, according to the Associated Press.
The document was crafted by several of Trump’s long-time allies and both current and former administration officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
It includes policies on immigration, dismantling certain federal agencies, banning pornography, and revoking approval for abortion medications.
Throughout the previous year, Trump frequently criticized Project 2025. In July 2024, he claimed ignorance of the document’s details and its creators.
“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,” he declared.
His campaign leaders echoed this sentiment, with Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita stating that the downfall of Project 2025 would be warmly welcomed.
“President Trump’s campaign has been very clear for over a year that Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way,” they wrote in a campaign memo, as reported by ABC News.
“Reports of Project 2025’s demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign — it will not end well for you.”
Despite these prior objections, the 47th President has seemingly adopted the plans outlined in Project 2025.
The proposals include initiatives such as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), previously led by Elon Musk, along with budget recession strategies.
On Thursday (October 2), Trump announced his official alignment with Project 2025, stating that a meeting with his budget chief, Russ Vought, would take place.
The Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, known as the ‘architect’ of the conservative document, is central to this discussion.
“Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump stated via Truth Social.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Reacting to Trump’s change of stance, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson commented, “Democrats are desperate to talk about anything aside from their decision to hurt the American people by shutting down the government.”
Both Biden and Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponents, have criticized Project 2025, making it a focal point of their respective campaigns.
Following Trump’s endorsement of the conservative plan, Harris took to X, asserting: “This was always the plan.
“Project 2025 was Donald Trump’s blueprint to seize unchecked power within the federal government and restrict Americans’ freedoms. And he is implementing it right in front of our eyes.”
“Donald Trump and his stooges lied through their teeth about Project 2025, and now he’s running the country straight into it,” said Ammar Moussa, a former spokesperson for both campaigns.
“There’s no comfort in being right — just anger that we’re stuck with the consequences of his lies.”
Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Biden, remarked that the Trump administration had always been following the project’s guidelines, despite previous denials.
“I guess Democrats were right, but that doesn’t make me feel better,” she said. “I’m angry that this is happening after being told that this document was not going to be the centerpiece of this administration.”