Trump Has ‘Nothing to Do with Project 2025,’ Says Former Director Paul Dans
[Justin Lane/Pool via AP Photo]
Paul Dans, the former director of Project 2025, addressed questions on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins about former President Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in the controversial GOP playbook aimed at overhauling the federal government. The playbook includes proposals such as replacing government workers with Trump loyalists and eliminating the Department of Education, raising concerns about its potential impact on the upcoming election.
When asked whether this presidential transition plan could become a liability for Trump, Dans dismissed the idea. “No, not at all,” he responded, adding, “[Former] President Trump’s the greatest debater of our time and breaking news is Trump has nothing to do with Project 2025. Sure, a lot of us have worked in the admin and came together, but this started long before he even announced a run for president.”
Dans described Project 2025 as a “coming-together of the conservative movement,” stating that while it has been perceived as “threatening” by Democrats, the plan has unified over 100 conservative groups. “Our side has always been prone to infighting,” he said, explaining that the playbook is part of a broader “common sense plan” for the future of the country.
Collins, however, pressed Dans on Trump’s connection to the project, pointing out that many former Trump administration officials, including six of his Cabinet secretaries, were involved in drafting the plan. Dans clarified that while former Trump officials contributed to the project, “Trump personally didn’t have anything to do with it.”
Collins then brought up Trump’s past criticism of Project 2025, noting that he has referred to it as “abysmal” and “ridiculous.” Dans responded, “I don’t know what he’s referring to in particular with that,” and distanced himself from controversial remarks made by some affiliated with the Heritage Foundation. He specifically renounced comments about a “second American Revolution” and calls for “bloodlessness.” He added, “We have to lower the temperature in this country.”
Despite some of the criticisms, Dans defended the core ideas in Project 2025, calling them “pretty solid.” He argued that much of what is believed to be in the plan is based on misinformation. “The reality is that what most people think is in Project 2025 is in fact not in it,” he said.
Collins acknowledged that while some attacks on the project, such as claims about Social Security, are false, others—including proposals to revoke an FDA-approved abortion drug and repeal the Inflation Reduction Act—are indeed in the plan.
When asked if he believes parts of Project 2025 will be implemented, Dans expressed hope that some proposals would move forward. He reiterated that not everyone who contributed to the book supports every idea within it.
Regarding his personal connection to Trump, Dans revealed that while he has visited Mar-a-Lago several times, he’s only briefly interacted with the former president. He confirmed that Trump has not been “personally briefed” on Project 2025 and noted that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, not Trump, was invited to the book’s debut. “It’s very ironic that it’s getting mapped to him,” Dans concluded. “That’s fake news.”
