Donald Trump’s backtracking on Project 2025 didn’t seem to fool many – aside from a few hard-line loyalists who expressed betrayal – but apparent proof of his knowledge and endorsement of the far-reaching plan further weakens his claim that he knows “nothing.”
In an April 2022 speech before the Heritage Foundation – the ultra-right group behind the 922-page policy manifesto – Trump acknowledged exactly the kind of work they’re doing and applauded them for “lay[ing] the groundwork” for his next administration.
“They’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do,” Trump said of the Heritage Foundation and their efforts to – as they describe on the Project 2025 website – “pave the way” for Trump’s next administration.
Despite the document being drafted and developed by hundreds of Trump’s campaign alumni and employees, the former president scurried to deny any connection to the proposal as it picked up mainstream attention.
“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this month. “I have no idea who is behind it,” he added, despite speaking numerous times at Heritage Foundation events.
A question, please, as I’m not a legal expert: The Heritage Foundation is a 501©(3) charitable organization.
The IRS says:
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501©(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
I don’t understand that. How is this possible?
[Edit typo.]
They have a separate 501©(4) called “Heritage Action” that does that work, but everything “Heritage Action” does is more or less attributable to the Heritage Foundation
The left hand knows exactly what the right hand is doing.