A key architect behind the controversial Project 2025 blueprint for a potential second Trump administration has revealed he is in direct contact with former President Donald Trump, despite Trump’s public disavowal of the project. Russell Vought, a former director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, disclosed his ongoing connection with the former president during an undercover interview.
In a conversation with an undercover reporter and an actor posing as a potential donor from the Centre for Climate Reporting, a British investigative organization, Vought said he remains closely aligned with Trump. “I remember walking into our last day in office and telling him what I was going to do,” Vought said. “He’s very supportive of what we do.”
Vought, now associated with the right-wing think tank Center for Renewing America, stated that his team is preparing a comprehensive set of executive orders aimed at significant changes, including the mass firing of federal employees and deportations of undocumented immigrants. He indicated that these orders could be seamlessly passed to Trump if he returns to the White House.
“There are people like me who have his trust and will be able to get it to him in whatever position we’re at,” Vought claimed. “The relationships will be there. The trust level will be there.”
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Project 2025, a detailed policy framework for a second Trump term led by the Heritage Foundation, outlines numerous proposals including restrictions on abortion and the replacement of federal workers with Trump loyalists. Despite this, Trump has publicly distanced himself from the project. Last month, Trump stated on his social media platform, “I know nothing about Project 2025. 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.”
The Trump campaign reinforced this separation on Thursday, with a spokesperson asserting that “only President Trump and the campaign, and NOT any other organization or former staff, represent policies for the second term.” The spokesperson added that Trump’s policy commitments are exclusively outlined in the campaign’s 20 promises and the RNC Platform.
The Centre for Climate Reporting’s use of an actor to gain access to Vought for the interview has sparked ethical concerns, with American journalists typically avoiding deceptive practices for information gathering. A spokesperson for the Center for Renewing America downplayed the revelations, suggesting the information was already public and accessible via their website and media interviews.
Vought’s connections with Trump and Project 2025’s strategies have been well-documented. The Associated Press previously reported that Vought drafted a “180-day playbook” for the initial phase of a potential second Trump term, indicating his likely involvement in a high-ranking position should Trump secure another presidency in the November election.
