President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are pushing back against critics urging Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race by taking a strong stance against the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 platform. This move comes in response to former President Trump's efforts to distance himself from Project 2025, a controversial initiative that has been depicted as a roadmap for a potential future Republican administration to overhaul various aspects of the U.S. government.
Trump has publicly criticized elements of the plan, labeling them as 'ridiculous' and 'abysmal.' Biden campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika has linked Trump to Project 2025, accusing the initiative of being led by extremists who supported Trump's divisive policies during his first term in office.
Chitika warned that if Trump were to win the election, his Project 2025 allies would intensify efforts to restrict abortion rights, cut Social Security and Medicare benefits, and consolidate power in the hands of the presidency. She emphasized the interconnectedness of Trump and Project 2025, asserting that voters would reject both in the upcoming election.
While Project 2025 is not officially affiliated with Trump's campaign, Chitika's reference to the 'Trump's Project 2025 team' points to the fact that key figures behind the initiative had previously served in Trump's administration. Paul Dans, who spearheaded the project and held a position as Trump's White House Liaison to the Office of Personnel Management, is among those associated with Project 2025.
