Political strategists and journalists are responding to Donald Trump's sudden, strident, and illogical denial that he has any knowledge of Project 2025, the far-right Heritage Foundation's 920-page action plan to entirely remake the executive branch of the federal government, creating an all-powerful president in charge of a Christian nationalist authoritarian America. A Trump campaign official reportedly said the criminally convicted ex-president's denial Friday was "a direct response" to "the Biden campaign running ads on Project 2025."
Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, a self-avowed Christian nationalist who's been described as a "cowboy Catholic" and a culture warrior, has been making the cable news rounds recently, promoting Project 2025. Late last month he gave a lengthy interview to MSNBC's Symone Sanders-Townsend, declaring Heritage's goal is to institutionalize "Trumpism" as a new version of conservatism.
On Tuesday, Roberts went all-in on celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court’s declaration that presidents have “absolute” immunity for “official” acts.
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He then issued remarks some have called "threatening violence": "we are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”
Roberts' comments made headlines, apparently so much so that Trump late Friday morning moved to wholly distance himself from the multimillion dollar far right wing project that is authored in part by, according to an NCRM review, at least 18 former Trump officials, and, as of February, had 100 right-wing partners.
Insisting he both knows "nothing" about Project 2025 and has "nothing" to do with it, while insisting he "disagrees" with some of it but wishes them luck, Trump declared: “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.”
HuffPost's Jennifer Bendery notes, "All three of the guys behind Project 2025 worked in the White House for Trump when he was president."
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CNN's Alayna Treene reports: "A senior Trump adviser noted [Trump's] post is a direct response the Biden campaign running ads on Project 2025 & tying it to the Trump campaign."
"Project 2025's agenda would radically reshape the federal government & includes many objectives Trump himself has floated," she adds.
Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin responded, "Trump is lying because he knows his agenda is toxic with voters."
Another Democratic strategist, Max Burns, calls Trump's denial a "great sign that Democrats should be doubling down on highlighting the extreme far-right plans contained in Project 2025. The @GOP is obviously seeing some internal polling showing how unpopular it is. Now is the time to make sure every single American knows Project 2025."
Attorney and MeidasTouch.com editor in chief Ron Filipowski observes, "Trump’s move today claiming to disavow Project 2025 is just like how he bragged about overturning Roe then tried to distance himself from extreme laws implemented by many states after he saw the polling. Same drill. Wasn’t me!"
The Biden campaign blasted Trump:
"FACT CHECK:
—His Super PAC is running ads promoting Project 2025, calling it “Trump’s Project 2025”
—His top aide and former bag boy John McEntee is the guy behind Project 2025
—His press secretary is starring in recruitment ads for Project 2025
—Trump himself said he “needs” the Heritage Foundation, the organization behind Project 2025, to enact his MAGA agenda"
Wonkette managing editor Evan Hurst added, "Trump and his campaign are terrified that people are learning about #Project2025."
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