Project 2025, a far-reaching conservative plan to dismantle government as we know it, seems to be everywhere these days.
Several of Donald Trump’s running mates defended themselves on news shows Sunday, saying that if Trump wins a second term, they wouldn’t be tied to the presidential transition project 2025. President Joe Biden posted a video to social media on Wednesday morning saying, “Project 2025 will destroy America. Check it out.”
But why has the 900-page order, released in April 2023, become the biggest story among key election issues such as Trump’s choice of vice presidential nominee and Biden’s candidacy?
Here’s what we know about how Project 2025 started trending.
Project 2025:J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio say Donald Trump isn’t tied to the massive maintenance plan known as Project 2025
Project 2025:Biden and Democrats are targeting a 900-page conservative comprehensive plan called “Project 2025.”
Ahead of Biden debate disaster, Democrats plan to focus on Project 2025: Report
Google Trends tracks the relative search interest of terms, with 100 being the peak of popularity and 50 meaning that the term has become half as popular compared to its peak.
The interest level for “Project 2025” rose sharply from 18 on June 30th to 100 on July 9th and 10th.
In late May and early June, rumors about Project 2025 circulated among politicians, particularly Democrats who criticized the plan. Democratic Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts denounced the plan on the House floor. Pressley’s video was posted to TikTok, where it has also been discussed by several users in recent weeks.
Axios reported that before Biden’s disastrous defeat in the first debate, the Biden campaign had planned to use Project 2025 to seize the opportunity to show voters what’s at stake in a Trump reelection. The outlet also reported that the Biden campaign plans to launch a Project 2025 webpage on the day of the debate and send out messages through social media.
President Trump has sought to distance himself from the plan, saying he has “no idea” about it.
Search interest in Google Trends began growing around the time of the debate, but it took to the star-studded stage a few days later.
Project 2025 goes mainstream at the urging of BET Awards host Taraji P. Henson
On June 30, Taraji P. Henson hosted the 2024 BET Awards, which was attended by performers like Will Smith, Ice Spice, and Megan Thee Stallion.
In a spirited speech after a video urging the audience to vote, Henson said this isn’t just about presidential candidates.
“Pay attention. This is not a secret. Look it up,” she said in a video posted by The Hollywood Reporter. “They’re attacking our most vulnerable citizens. Project 2025 is not a game. Look it up!”
As she closed the show, she reinforced that message.
“I love you all. Make sure you vote. This is a very serious issue. It’s taking our freedoms away from us,” she said. “Do your research. Look at the 2025 agenda, because if you don’t vote, this time next year could be very different.”
According to a press release from BET, the ceremony drew more than 3 million viewers, and the network also said that searches for Project 2025 increased fourfold after Henson mentioned the term.
Throughout the week following her speech, Google Trends showed that search interest increased from a relative interest score of 18 to 93.
What is Project 2025?
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has developed a “Mission for Leadership” as part of its 2025 Presidential Transition Project, which includes 900 pages of policy recommendations to “save the nation from the dominance of the radical left.”
The bill criticizes policies implemented by Biden and President Barack Obama, including student loan forgiveness and Obamacare, and also proposes reforming federal agencies like the FBI, abolishing the Department of Education, revoking federal approval of abortion pills and giving immigration authorities more power to deport illegal immigrants.
Although Trump has denied any involvement with the project, several of its authors worked in the former Trump administration.
Contributors: Rachel Barbour, David Jackson, Savannah Kuchar
