Donald Trump's campaign intervened in the non-profit Heritage Foundation's "Project 2025" to shut down the operation after it began reflecting badly on his candidacy. Non-profits are prohibited from coordinating with political campaigns, the IRS website says.
Trump's campaign immediately released a furious statement saying they had nothing to do with plan director Paul Dans' ousting.
"Trump Campaign issues a nasty statement after Project 2025 Director resigns, which clearly proves they were the ones who demanded it and are only upset about it because it was so unpopular with the public," quipped MeidasTouch editor Ron Filipkowski.
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Indeed, the angry statement continued to deny any involvement.
"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 associated with the campaign or the President in any way," the statement from the campaign said.
“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," it also claimed.
Meanwhile, Heritage Foundation director Kevin Roberts said in comments on X that Project 2025 is still alive and well, and so is Dans. He's merely moving to a different role.
It prompted political analysts and experts to quickly post the gif from "The Brady Bunch Movie" with Marsha saying, "Sure, Jan."
"It's just too little too late," was another gif posted by national security lawyer Bradley Moss.
Others pointed out Trump's frequent denial that he had nothing to do with Project 2025 and knew nothing about it. The fact that his campaign was involved in shoving Dans out would not only cause tax status for the Heritage Foundation.
"So, Paul Dans of the Heritage Foundation is OUT," posted Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson on X. "Dans was a key author of Project 2025. It's almost as if...and say it with me, folks...Everything Trump Touches Dies."
"In a desperate attempt to distance himself from Project 2025, Trump is threatening 'it will not end well for' anyone calling out his ties to that MAGA manifesto," The Lincoln Project said in a comment from the group. "Anyways, here's a thread of all the Project 2025 creators Trump claims he doesn't know, but have ties to his admin."
Former short-lived White House communications director and one-Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci also mocked the statement.
"Guys we were just kidding our full on rascist fascist movement (Project 2025) isn’t popular so we are going to pretend it doesn’t exist. The lies will continue until morale improves. Trump is going to lose the election. Cry now to prepare yourself," he posted on X.
"They’ll take pieces of it and just move it into the campaign. The unpopular stuff they’ll pretend it never existed and Trump will continue to distance himself. Bad dudes," he also said.
Reporter Brian Karem agreed, noting, "in the best MAGA/Project 2025 fashion threatens anyone who won't buy their latest b.s. by saying it 'won't end well' for them. The tragic, dark comedy of MAGA continues."
