Trump's Agenda Aligns Closely with Project 2025 Despite His Protests

Photo : Reuters

Donald Trump has publicly distanced himself from "Project 2025," a comprehensive 1,000-page proposal advocating for a far-right shift in American governance and society. During a debate on September 10, he stated, "I haven't read it. I don't want to read it," despite its extensive overlap with his own agenda for a potential second term as president.

Although Trump insists that Project 2025 does not mirror his priorities, a closer examination reveals significant similarities between the project, led by the conservative Heritage Foundation, and Trump’s official "Agenda 47." This agenda encompasses key policies on various issues such as economics, immigration, education, civil rights, and foreign affairs.

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Trump's tax policies tend to favor corporations and wealthier individuals. He aims to extend his 2017 tax reform, which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, down to 15%. He also intends to repeal taxes imposed by the Inflation Reduction Act that support climate change initiatives. Although Trump emphasizes relief for working- and middle-class Americans through proposals like exempting tips, Social Security payments, and overtime wages from income taxes, his tips plan could inadvertently benefit high-income earners. In contrast, Project 2025 proposes a dual federal income tax rate of 15% and 30%, eliminating most deductions and credits. This structure could disproportionately increase the tax burden on poorer and middle-class Americans, who may already be strained by existing state and local tax codes.

Trump’s immigration strategy advocates for strict limits on both legal and illegal immigration. His famous campaign slogan "Build the wall!" has evolved into plans for the largest deportation program in U.S. history. He proposes employing the National Guard for border enforcement and ending birthright citizenship, which may require a constitutional amendment. Trump also seeks to reinstate several controversial policies from his first term, including the "Remain in Mexico" policy. Project 2025 contains extensive proposals to roll back numerous immigration statutes and reinforces the rules from Trump’s administration. It aims to limit the number of refugees, work visa recipients, and asylum seekers significantly, echoing Trump’s hardline stance on immigration.

Trump promotes aggressive regulatory cuts, aiming to lower utility costs and boost housing supply by eliminating federal regulations. He argues that the president has the exclusive authority to control federal spending, which could undermine Congress's budgetary powers. This document advocates for a significant reduction in federal regulations, making it easier to fire federal employees. It also supports giving the president greater discretion over federal spending, echoing Trump’s viewpoints while emphasizing the need for executive action to limit the bureaucratic reach of the government.

Trump seeks to dismantle government diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and roll back protections for LGBTQ individuals. He promises to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's sports and to limit gender identification to two categories at birth. The project promotes a traditional view of family, asserting that children need both a mother and father. It calls for consolidating federal civil rights efforts under the Department of Justice, with enforcement primarily through litigation, allowing the administration to focus on selective enforcement of civil rights laws.

Trump aims to eliminate the Department of Education but does not advocate for a complete withdrawal of federal influence in education. He plans to use federal funding as leverage to abolish diversity programs and implement merit pay for teachers. He also proposes redirecting university endowments into a non-political online academy offering free college credentials. Similar to Trump, Project 2025 calls for dismantling the Department of Education, advocating for similar educational reforms aimed at reducing federal oversight and promoting meritocracy in schools.

In conclusion, while Donald Trump claims that Project 2025 does not align with his vision for a second presidential term, significant overlaps exist in their approaches to tax policy, immigration, executive power, social issues, and education. Both emphasize a sharp rightward shift in American policy that aims to cater to a conservative base while maintaining a focus on populist themes.