Senior Trump adviser calls Project 2025 authors 'a pain in the a‑‑'

Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita strongly admonished the efforts of the conservatives behind Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's policy blueprint for a future GOP administration.

"These people do not speak for him. They do not speak for the campaign," LaCivita said at a CNN-Politico event in Milwaukee as part of the Republican National Convention. "We’re the ones putting out policy. In a perfect world, from their perspective, they would love to drive the issue set. They don't get to do that."

“They're jamming you?” moderator Jonathan Martin asked.

“They're a pain in the a‑‑,” LaCivita responded.

Democrats have for weeks highlighted Project 2025, which was published by the Heritage Foundation and details how a Republican administration might enact policy on abortion, immigration, climate, tax policy and government regulation.

Trump has in recent days aggressively sought to distance himself from the proposal, claiming in multiple social media posts that he does not know those behind the effort and insisting the group does not speak for him.

“I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it,” he posted earlier this month on Truth Social. “I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.” 

A CNN report published last week found at least 140 people who worked in the Trump administration were involved with Project 2025 in some capacity.