Vance Commends Key Figure Behind Project 2025 Amid Campaign Controversy
In a notable endorsement, Ohio Senator JD Vance, the vice presidential candidate on Donald Trump’s ticket, has praised Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, for his leadership in Project 2025. This endorsement, featured in the foreword of Roberts' forthcoming book Dawn’s Early Light, highlights a complex relationship between Trump’s campaign and the conservative transition effort that Trump himself has sought to distance from.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the foreword on July 30, 2024, coinciding with a significant reshuffling within Project 2025. Vance’s foreword lauds Roberts’ vision as groundbreaking for American conservatism, stating, “Never before has a figure with Roberts’s depth and stature within the American Right tried to articulate a genuinely new future for conservatism.” He further extols the Heritage Foundation as a pivotal force in shaping Republican ideology from Reagan to Trump.
Despite these commendations, Vance’s spokesman, William Martin, emphasized that Vance and the Trump campaign maintain a distance from Project 2025. “The foreword has nothing to do with Project 2025. Senator Vance has previously stated that he has no involvement with it and has significant disagreements with some of its proposals,” Martin clarified. “Only President Trump will set the policy agenda for the next administration.”
The divergence comes amid criticism of Project 2025 from Trump’s senior aides, who have distanced the campaign from the project, arguing that its extreme vision misrepresents the campaign’s platform. Following recent developments, Roberts has taken direct control of Project 2025 operations, succeeding Paul Dans, who departed the Heritage Foundation on July 30.
Roberts’ book, scheduled for release on September 24, 2024, is titled Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America. Earlier, the book was described as Burning Down Washington to Save America, a reflection of its radical proposals. The book outlines a vision for what its publisher calls a “peaceful Second American Revolution,” critiquing and proposing significant overhauls of several U.S. institutions including Ivy League universities, the FBI, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Education.
In his foreword, Vance emphasizes a shift towards a proactive conservatism, advocating for a “rebuild” rather than merely opposing leftist policies. He references Roberts’ metaphor of “circling the wagons and loading the muskets” as a call to arms for the conservative movement, asserting, “In the fights that lay ahead, these ideas are an essential weapon.”
Vance’s foreword also delves into personal reflections, drawing parallels between his own experiences and Roberts’. He touches upon their shared backgrounds, including challenging upbringings, influential grandparents, and Catholic faith, while also addressing contentious topics such as family values and marriage.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has criticized Vance’s rhetoric, with spokesman Alex Floyd accusing him of perpetuating “dangerous rhetoric” consistent with Trump’s controversial statements. Vance’s recent comments on cultural issues, including a disparaging remark about Democrats and their family choices, have also attracted scrutiny.
As Project 2025 continues to stir debate and reshape conservative discourse, Vance’s endorsement of Roberts highlights the ongoing tensions and ideological battles within the Republican Party and its broader political strategy.
