Former President Donald Trump formally distanced himself from a think tank’s policy plan for the next Republican president.
The plan, called Project 2025, is put forth by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.
Although the plan was published in 2023, Democrats have recently sought to tie it to Trump in the wake of President Joe Biden’s catastrophic debate performance and subsequent party turmoil.
Trump is not affiliated with the plan in any way and he has not endorsed or supported it. In a post on Truth Social over the weekend, he more clearly drew a line between himself and Project 2025.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump wrote on his platform.
“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.”
In fact, the plan has reportedly annoyed Trump and his campaign, who put out their own detailed policy plans, Agenda47.
Project 2025 reiterated on X that it does not represent any candidate.
“As we’ve been saying for more than two years now, Project 2025 does not speak for any candidate or campaign.”
“We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy & personnel recommendations for the next conservative president,” the post states.
Vice Presidential Candidates Weigh In
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) separately defended Trump against Democrat attempts to link him to Project 2025.
“Think tanks do think tank stuff,” Rubio said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
When asked about controversial remarks Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts made on Steve Bannon’s “War Room”, Rubio again defended: “Well, he’s not running for president, is he?”
“Our candidate’s Donald Trump. I didn’t see Donald Trump say that.”
Vance made similar remarks on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.
“You’ll have to ask the president of the Heritage Foundation to defend his remarks if you’d like to do that,” he said.
Bravo call, Move