Donald Trump distanced himself Friday from Project 2025, a comprehensive proposed overhaul of the federal government created by his allies and former officials from his administration. This move comes days after the head of the think tank behind the program suggested it would lead to a second American Revolution. "I know nothing about Project 2025," Trump posted on his social media website. "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." The 922-page plan proposes a significant expansion of presidential power and aims to replace up to 50,000 government workers with Trump loyalists. President Joe Biden's reelection campaign has highlighted the agenda, especially after Biden's poor debate performance. Trump has his own plans for a second term, including staging the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and imposing tariffs on potentially all imports. His campaign has previously warned allies not to speak on his behalf, suggesting their transition efforts were unhelpful. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, speaking on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast, claimed Republicans are "in the process of taking this country back," referring to the proposed changes as a "second American Revolution" that will remain bloodless if allowed by the left. These comments have been widely circulated and criticized by the Biden campaign, which accused Trump and his allies of "dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America." Project 2025 includes contributions from former senior administration officials, with Paul Dans, a former chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, serving as the project's director. John McEntee, a former director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, is a senior adviser and has mentioned plans to integrate the project's work with Trump's campaign. Trump's comments about Project 2025 come just before the Republican Party's meetings to draft its party platform. Project 2025 is preparing a 180-day agenda for the next administration, which it plans to share privately. A spokesperson for Project 2025 emphasized that the plan is not tied to any specific candidate or campaign. "We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy and personnel recommendations for the next conservative president," the statement said. The Democratic National Committee linked the plan to Trump's campaign, with a Biden campaign spokesperson calling it an "extreme policy and personnel playbook for Trump's second term that should scare the hell out of the American people." On Thursday, as the country celebrated Independence Day, the Biden campaign posted a shot from the TV drama "The Handmaid's Tale" on X, implying that Trump's Project 2025 would lead to a dystopian future. — Agencies
