Russell Vought on Project 2025 and Trump

A recently released video featuring Russell Vought, co-author of Project 2025, sheds light on the controversial far-right policy agenda that has seen Donald Trump distancing himself in recent weeks. The footage, captured by activists from the nonprofit Centre for Climate Reporting, shows Vought discussing the implications of the plan for America and his behind-the-scenes efforts in its development. Vought, who previously served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, has been described as a "key architect" of the initiative. In the video, Vought asserts that Project 2025 is ready to be "plugged right in" should Trump win the upcoming election. He claims to have the former president's trust, despite Trump's recent attempts to distance himself from the plan. Vought noted that Trump has previously supported his organization, even raising funds for it, and has "blessed" the project. This suggests a complex relationship between Trump and the far-right agenda, as Vought anticipates that Trump will continue to publicly distance himself from the initiative. The Center for Renewing America, which Vought founded in 2021, has been collaborating with the Heritage Foundation to develop Project 2025. The organization responded to the video's release by emphasizing that much of the information is already publicly available and part of a broader investigation into populist movements opposing climate action. Experts warn that the implementation of Project 2025 could significantly alter the federal government's operations, raising concerns as controversy surrounding its proposals has intensified since July.