Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on Wednesday that former President Trump’s campaign may face challenges due to the emergence of Project 2025.
In an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Buttigieg highlighted that Project 2025, a policy document from The Heritage Foundation, represents a major scandal of the year. He contrasted it with traditional scandals, noting that unlike criminal cover-ups or sensational controversies, the most impactful issue for Trump is the detailed policy agenda outlined in Project 2025.
“It’s extraordinary that the largest scandal of the year is actually about policy,” Buttigieg remarked. “While many argue that elections no longer center on policy issues, Project 2025 has caused substantial unease among Republicans and prompted extensive damage control. This isn’t about a criminal scandal or a scandalous tape—it’s about the fact that their policies have been explicitly documented, which could be a serious liability for them.”
Project 2025 is a comprehensive 900-page policy agenda crafted by The Heritage Foundation, outlining conservative objectives if Republicans regain the White House. Despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself, claiming ignorance of Project 2025’s specifics, the document includes contributions from former Trump administration figures like Ben Carson and Ken Cuccinelli. CNN reported last month that at least 140 individuals from Trump’s previous administration are involved with Project 2025.
Trump responded to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s remarks linking him to Project 2025 by asserting his lack of involvement. “I have nothing to do with it. I’m not familiar with it,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” He characterized Project 2025 as a compilation of conservative values created by a group of people with no direct connection to him.
In his address at the Democratic National Convention, Walz emphasized the reason of having a detailed policy agenda, asserting that when a group invests time in drafting such a plan, it is likely to be implemented.