Trump Seeks To Distance From Project 2025 Despite Close Ties To RNC’s New Platform

Former President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. This plan, which provides a detailed blueprint for the next Republican president to overhaul the executive branch, was developed by individuals who helped shape the Republican National Committee’s new policy platform.

“I know nothing about Project 2024. I have no idea who is behind it,” claimed Trump on social media.

While his comments imply no connection to the controversial plan or its creators, Republicans will meet next week in Milwaukee to officially confirm the party’s new platform. This platform, which Trump and Republicans nationwide will campaign on, has been significantly influenced by individuals deeply involved in Project 2025.

Project 2025 outlines a proposed presidential transition project with four key components: a 900-page policy guide for the next presidential administration titled Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise, a LinkedIn-style database of potential administration personnel, training for these candidates through the Presidential Administration Academy and a playbook of actions to be taken within the first 180 days in office.

The proposal is led by two former Trump administration officials: Paul Dans, former chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management and now the project’s director, and Spencer Chretien, a former special assistant to Trump and the project’s associate director.

While the Heritage Foundation oversees Project 2025, it includes an advisory board of over 100 conservative groups.

In May, the Trump campaign and the RNC announced their Platform Committee leadership team, responsible for drafting the Republican platform, which was adopted on Monday.

Russ Vought was named as the committee’s policy director and Ed Martin as deputy platform policy director, both with ties to Project 2025.

Vought, former director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, authored a chapter on the executive office of the president in the project’s presidential policy guide. His Center For Renewing America is also listed as a member of Project 2025’s advisory board.

Martin serves as president of the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund, which is also included on Project 2025’s advisory board.

Other members of the RNC’s platform committee with ties to Project 2025 include Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, known for advocating tough policies on abortion, and whose council is also part of the project’s advisory board.

As recently as April, Project 2025’s senior advisor John McEntee, a former Trump White House adviser, declared plans to integrate Project 2025 with Trump’s campaign while maintaining a clear distinction between the two.

“Obviously, there will need to be coordination and the president and his team will announce an official transition this summer, and we’re going to integrate a lot of work with them. But I think keeping the two separate is actually the most beneficial way to go about it,” said McEntee in a recent interview.

However, despite Trump’s attempts to create distance from Project 2025, the two entities remain closely intertwined.

Several other key former members of the Trump administration are involved in Project 2025.

For instance, Stephen Miller, who recently assisted Trump with debate preparation and is featured in the project’s Presidential Administration Academy video, also has his organization, America First Legal, listed among its advisory members.

Trump campaign’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, is also prominently featured in Project 2025’s presidential administration video.

Members of Trump’s PAC-funded groups also serve on the project’s advisory board, including the Conservative Partnership Institute, led by Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.