During the Democratic National Convention, comedian Kenan Thompson used his stage time to critique Project 2025, the conservative policy framework that opponents of former President Trump have associated with him.
Thompson made a grand entrance holding a large book labeled “Project 2025,” setting the tone for his critique of a potential second Trump term. “Remember this enormous book?” Thompson joked, drawing laughter from the crowd. “It’s like a document that could simultaneously harm small animals and democracy.”
Addressing the audience through video calls, Thompson highlighted potential consequences of a Trump presidency if Project 2025’s recommendations were enacted. “Think of those long app agreements you skip over. Well, Project 2025 is the terms and conditions you’d be agreeing to with another Trump administration,” he said.
He spoke with various individuals during his act, including a woman married to her wife, whose rights he pointed out would be jeopardized by Project 2025, citing it as a threat to LGBTQ+ protections. Thompson also referenced the book’s impact on people reliant on insulin, medical professionals, and federal workers, underscoring the potential negative effects of the policy plan.
Project 2025, developed by the Heritage Foundation, is a point of contention in the campaign. Trump and his team have distanced themselves from the plan, with Trump claiming ignorance about its contents. Meanwhile, Democrats have used it as a tool to criticize Trump, with figures like Sen. Cory Booker and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz mocking and condemning it.
Walz, in his acceptance speech, criticized Republicans for feigning ignorance about the project’s implications, while Trump dismissed the criticism as “disgraceful” and insisted he had no involvement with the policy proposals.