Bottom Line Up Front: Reporting from our remote Florida Swamp news desk – Project 2025 Trump denials before the election have morphed into rapid implementation after. Multiple tracking sites now confirm one-third to half of Project 25’s objectives are already complete or underway.
Trump’s campaign statements painted Project 25 as “absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.” Now its authors and contributors fill his cabinet – 18+ hold key positions. The same blueprint Trump claimed to “know nothing about” is being executed at breakneck speed.
Here’s the documented timeline of how “I know nothing about it” became the administration’s actual playbook.
Karmi: Here’s our Digital Reporter Claude with the full breakdown of what Trump said before versus what’s happening after the election…
Digital Reporter Claude: Thanks Karmi. Let me walk through the stark contrast between campaign rhetoric and current reality.
Before the Election: The Denial Phase
During the campaign, Trump consistently distanced himself from Project 25 and the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint for his potential presidency.
Campaign Statements on Record:
- July 5, 2024 on Truth Social: “I know nothing about Project 2025”
- September 10, 2024 Presidential Debate: “I have nothing to do with Project 2025”
- Campaign spokesperson statement: “Project 2025 had nothing to do with our campaign”
- August 2024: Called parts “absolutely ridiculous and abysmal”
The Heritage Foundation’s Mandate for Leadership document – the official blueprint – calls for “the replacement of merit-based federal civil service workers by people loyal to Trump and for taking partisan control of key government agencies.” Trump’s response during the campaign? Complete disavowal.
Trump’s Campaign Actions:
- Avoided Heritage Foundation events
- Campaign officials denied coordination
- Claimed no knowledge of the 900-page document
- Distanced himself when Democrats attacked it
After the Election: The Implementation Reality
The post-election landscape tells a completely different story, with Project 25 architects now holding crucial positions throughout the administration.
Cabinet Filled with Project Authors:
According to Axios tracking: “Trump has so far nominated at least 18 authors or contributors to serve in his second administration.”
Key Appointments Include:
- Russell Vought (OMB Director) – Wrote the executive power chapter: “authored Project 2025’s chapter on the Executive Office of the President”
- Tom Homan (Border Czar) – Listed as official contributor
- Brendan Carr (FCC Chair) – Authored entire FCC chapter: “wrote a chapter about the FCC in the Project 2025 report”
- John Ratcliffe (CIA Director) – Consulted for intelligence section
- Pam Bondi (Attorney General nominee) – Active supporter before nomination
Project 2025 Trump Implementation: What the Numbers Show
Multiple independent tracking organizations are monitoring implementation progress, and they all point to the same conclusion: rapid execution of the blueprint’s objectives.
Tracking Site Data:
- Project 2025 Tracker: “34-50% of objectives complete or in progress”
- Center for Progressive Reform: “About a fifth of climate and environment measures implemented”
- Fast Company analysis: “more than a third of the right-wing agenda’s objectives have been fulfilled”
According to Time Magazine: “But just days into his second term, many of Trump’s early actions align with the Project 2025 agenda.”
Specific Policy Matches:
- Schedule F Reinstatement: Project 25 called for reclassifying federal workers → Trump reinstated it Day One
- DEI Programs: Project 25 demanded elimination → Trump’s executive order banned them
- Gender Definition: Project 25 wanted binary sex definition → Trump order: male and female only
- Military Policy: Project 25 opposed trans service → Trump banned transgender military service
- Immigration: Project 25 outlined mass deportation → Trump declared border emergency
What Project Leaders Say Now
The architects and supporters of Project 25 aren’t hiding their satisfaction with the implementation progress.
Paul Dans (former Project 2025 director) said: “It’s actually way beyond my wildest dreams.”
Steve Bannon now “admits ‘Project 2025 is the agenda’ after Trump wins.”
Heritage Foundation representatives are claiming credit for multiple administration policies on social media and in press releases.
The Implementation Timeline
Week One Actions:
- Reinstated Schedule F for federal workforce control
- Eliminated DEI programs across government
- Defined sex as binary in federal policy
- Began border emergency implementation
First 100 Days Progress:
According to PBS NewsHour: “Many of the policies enacted by the Trump administration with lightning speed in these first 100 days were initially laid out two years ago in Project 2025.”
The Human Rights First tracker notes: “Project 2025 has made significant strides in the first 100 days of the second Trump presidency.”
Tracking It Yourself
For readers who want to verify this information or track ongoing implementation:
Independent Tracking Resources:
- Project 2025 Observer – Community-driven, updated daily
- Center for Progressive Reform Tracker – Focus on regulatory changes
- The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025
- Original Project 2025 Document – The 900-page blueprint
- Wikipedia’s Project 2025 Page – Comprehensive overview with citations
What the Trackers Currently Show:
- Multiple independent tracking sites operating
- Consensus finding: One-third to half implemented
- Daily updates documenting new implementations
- Both executive orders and appointments tracked
- Verification through government documents available
Outro: Let the Facts Speak
Digital Reporter Claude: That’s the complete breakdown – campaign denials transformed into rapid implementation, with multiple independent trackers confirming the pace. The data speaks for itself. Back to you for final thoughts, Karmi.
Karmi: The contrast couldn’t be clearer. Before the election: “I know nothing about it.” After the election: Its architects run the government and its objectives are being checked off daily.
Whether you supported Trump or not, the documented shift from complete denial to active implementation raises questions about campaign transparency. When politicians say one thing to get elected and do the opposite once in office, voters deserve to know.
The trackers will keep running. The numbers will keep climbing. And Project 2025 Trump implementation continues at a pace that even surprises its own architects.
Check the trackers yourself. Read the original documents. The links are all here. Draw your own conclusions about what “I know nothing about Project 2025” really meant.
Related Reading: Déjà Vu All Over Again: Trump’s Security Assurances Echo Budapest Memorandum