The Daily Populous Monday July 8th, 2024 morning edition
Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by Kevombat

Former President Donald Trump cannot hide his ties to Project 2025, according to Democrats.

The lengthy Project 2025 playbook outlines a plan for a massive overhaul of the federal government, including plans to install Trump loyalists at all levels should the former president win a second term in November.

The initiative was developed by the conservative Heritage Foundation, with input from dozens of conservative-leaning groups and former Trump administration officials.

However, Trump has recently sought to distance himself from Project 2025.

Donald Trump on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Project 2025 is a "Trump-driven operation," according to Democrats. Donald Trump on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Project 2025 is a "Trump-driven operation," according to Democrats. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

"I know nothing about Project 2025," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday. "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."

Trump and Project 2025 "are one big MAGA operation, coordinating on an extreme blueprint to rip away freedoms and undermine democracy—and they've made it clear themselves," Aida Ross, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement.

"Many of Trump's closest former White House aides are leading the project and his campaign's own press secretary starred in one of their recruitment videos," Ross said, referencing Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt being featured in one of Project 2025's videos.

"On the heels of a Supreme Court decision helping pave the way for Trump to lead as a dictator on 'day one' and his ally openly calling for a violent revolution to destroy democracy, the stakes couldn't be higher."

A press release from the DNC links to an Axios report describing Project 2025 as "undeniably a Trump-driven operation," with "the biggest tell" being that John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office in the Trump administration, is a senior adviser to Project 2025.

"Trump can't hide his ties to the dangerous, unhinged MAGA loyalists at Project 2025, and the American people will stop them at the ballot box in November," Ross added.

Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told Newsweek: "Surprise, the Democrats are trying to gaslight the American people again. President Trump was very clear in his Truth post. Meanwhile, Democrats and Biden have taken crazy recommendations from liberal think tanks—like open borders and anti-American economic policies—and implemented them in federal government."

President Joe Biden's reelection campaign has also been working to draw more attention to Project 2025's agenda.

"Project 2025 is the extreme policy and personnel playbook for Trump's second term that should scare the hell out of the American people," Ammar Moussa, the rapid response director for Biden's campaign, told Newsweek on Friday.

Project 2025's staff and leadership "routinely tout their connections to Trump's team and are the same people leading the RNC [Republican National Committee]policy platform and Trump's debate prep, campaign, and inner circle," Moussa added.

Project 2025 has repeatedly said that it "does not speak for any candidate or campaign.

"We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president," a Project 2025 spokesperson said in a statement to Newsweek.

"But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement."

Update 7/7/2024, 11:20 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add comment from Steven Cheung.

Dianneis on July 7th, 2024 at 15:37 UTC »

Kind of hard to deny, considering that Project 2025 is staffed by over 200 former officials from the Trump administration and that Trump's budget chief and close ally in line to be his next chief of staff wrote an entire chapter for Project 2025 and now serves as policy director for the GOP platform committee.

IMSLI on July 7th, 2024 at 15:37 UTC »

John Oliver covered Project 2025 in a recent episode: “Trump’s Second Term”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwqpx6lp_s&

Wittgenstienwasright on July 7th, 2024 at 15:36 UTC »

He is the poster boy for Denialism Shits himself on camera. Is openly racist, convicted Felon, convicted Rapist and TRIED A FUCKING COUP. But sure he can be trusted about this?