DETROIT — President Joe Biden slammed “Project Right 2025” and made it a central theme of his speech at a rally in battleground Michigan on Friday, as he sought to put an end to Democrats’ calls for him to withdraw from the presidential race.
“Followers, Project 2025 is the biggest attack on our system of government and individual liberties ever proposed in the history of this nation,” Biden told the audience, adding that the plan is “run and funded by Trump’s cronies” and is “a second Trump blueprint.”
Biden fired up the crowd with a more energetic performance than usual, saying that if his Republican rival wins and carries out his plan, it would create a “nightmare” for the country. “Four more years of Donald Trump is very serious. And Project 2025 is very serious,” Biden said, calling the plan a threat to American values.
As Biden took to the stage, cheers of “Don’t give up!” and “We’re rooting for you!” The president said there has been “a lot of speculation recently” about whether Biden will continue in the election campaign.
“I’m running and we’re going to win!” he said.
Project 2025 is a 900-page policy roadmap drawn up by Trump allies and former administration officials, including Paul Danz and Spencer Chretien, for a second term for Trump. The plan calls for dismantling much of the U.S. government and replacing it with federal officials aligned with Trump’s vision, as well as overhauling the tax system and imposing abortion restrictions. It is led by the Heritage Foundation and backed by dozens of conservative groups.
Biden has zeroed in on Project 2025 as Democrats split over his future in the race after his shocking debate performances were viewed by party insiders as politically fatal to his reelection chances. Many voters backed Biden at the rally and expressed frustration with Democrats’ demands for him to step down. And it was clear the right-wing document was circulating as a rally for Democrats who want to keep Trump out of the White House.
Biden aides said the presidential campaign plans to continue to focus on Project 2025 at next week’s Republican convention.
The first seven Michigan voters NBC News spoke to before Biden’s remarks at the Detroit rally all knew about Project 2025 and had strong opinions about it.
“It’s terrifying. Our democracy will completely collapse and the entire government will be populated with Trump supporters,” said Deanna Zapico of Royal Oak. “It will be like Hitler in 1933. We won’t have elections for a long time. That’s my fear.”
“We share it with everybody,” Zapico said.
Deborah Fuertes of Brighton summed up the incident in one word: “Scary.”
“This is an existential threat,” she said.
“The Trump name is all over the place,” said Angela Hurd, a sales manager based in Grosse Pointe Woods. “If they don’t do it right, it’s going to look like The Handmaid’s Tale.”
The day before the rally, Trump sought to distance himself from the policy blueprint.
“I know nothing about Project 2025. I’ve never seen it, I don’t know who’s in charge, and unlike the highly popular Republican policy platform, I have no affiliation to it,” he wrote on social media, “but the Radical Left Democrats are busy trying to drag me into whatever policies are being put forward.”
An NPR/PBS/Marist poll released Friday found that 16% of voters said they had a favorable opinion of Project 2025, while 42% said they had an unfavorable opinion. Another 42% said they were unsure or had never heard of it.
At the rally, some Biden supporters expressed frustration and anger at Democrats for trying to force Biden out of the race, fearing it will weaken the party and give it more play to Trump.
“This is a critical point,” said Mary McInnes of South Lyon, who worries it’s too late to change the candidate without causing chaos. “We’re in this situation now. We need to speak with one voice.”
Fuentes added: “We need to stop eating our own people.”
Abby Clark, a longtime Detroit-based Democratic activist and former campaign staffer, said there was a “strong fear” that Trump would win if Biden continued to campaign.
“Most people I’ve spoken to think that ideally the president would step aside and let someone younger take over,” said Clark, who is with the volunteer Democratic group Pass the Torch.
Before Biden spoke, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist drew applause when he criticized Democrats who want Biden out of office.
“Let’s be honest, some people have a little fun going on TV and disparaging the president,” he said.
Hurd said he thinks Vice President Kamala Harris has a better chance of beating Trump because Biden lost ground in the debates. Still, Hurd hopes Biden stays in the race and wins a second term. He also thinks Democrats need to stop attacking each other.
“I wish Democrats were more like the Republican Party,” she said, referring to the GOP’s unwavering support for Trump despite his criminal conviction and other criminal charges.
“They’re supporting him,” she said. “Let’s support our candidate, too.”
In a rare move at a Biden rally, the president targeted reporters.
“They’ve been attacking me,” he said, referring to the reporters in the room. “I get their names wrong sometimes,” he added. “But you know what? Donald Trump gets absolved.”
One woman leaving the rally said the president’s performance was “amazing” and inspired her to volunteer to organize get-out-the-vote rallies for the president in Detroit this fall.
