Donald Trump’s backtracking on Project 2025 didn’t seem to fool many – aside from a few hard-line loyalists who expressed betrayal – but apparent proof of his knowledge and endorsement of the far-reaching plan further weakens his claim that he knows “nothing.”
In an April 2022 speech before the Heritage Foundation – the ultra-right group behind the 922-page policy manifesto – Trump acknowledged exactly the kind of work they’re doing and applauded them for “lay[ing] the groundwork” for his next administration.
“They’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do,” Trump said of the Heritage Foundation and their efforts to – as they describe on the Project 2025 website – “pave the way” for Trump’s next administration.
Despite the document being drafted and developed by hundreds of Trump’s campaign alumni and employees, the former president scurried to deny any connection to the proposal as it picked up mainstream attention.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this month. “I have no idea who is behind it,” he added, despite speaking numerous times at Heritage Foundation events.
They have a separate 501©(4) called “Heritage Action” that does that work, but everything “Heritage Action” does is more or less attributable to the Heritage Foundation
