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Trump, Harris spar over Project 2025 at start of debate

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris shake hands before the start of an ABC News presidential debate at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Vice President Harris wasted little time attaching former President Trump to Project 2025 during Tuesday night’s presidential debate.

“You’re going to hear from the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name-calling,” Harris said. “What you’re going to hear is a dangerous and detailed playbook called Project 2025.”


Trump pushed back, even as he said the policy documents had “some good” and “some bad” ideas.

“As you know, and as she knows, I have nothing to do with Project 2025. That’s out there, I haven’t read it. I don’t want to read it, purposely. I’m not going to read it,” Trump said.

Democrats have for months 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 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.

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