In a revealing hidden-camera video, Russell Vought, co-author of the right-wing blueprint Project 2025, candidly discussed his preparations for a potential second Trump term. The meeting took place last month in a luxurious Washington, DC, hotel suite, where Vought believed he was speaking to relatives of a wealthy conservative donor. Instead, he was being secretly recorded by employees of the Centre for Climate Reporting, a British journalism nonprofit.
Vought, a key figure in Project 2025, discussed his extensive efforts behind the scenes to develop policy frameworks for former President Donald Trump. He criticized the GOP’s focus on “religious liberty” over “Christian nation-ism” and shared his broad views on presidential power, along with plans to restrict pornography and immigration. The Centre for Climate Reporting published the video, shedding light on the ideas and strategies of one of the top policy minds in the MAGA movement.
Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, particularly as Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has highlighted some of its extreme proposals. However, Vought indicated that Trump’s disavowals were a strategic maneuver in what he termed “graduate-level politics.” He revealed that his organization, the Center for Renewing America, has been drafting hundreds of executive orders, regulations, and memos to facilitate rapid action on Trump’s plans if he returns to office. Vought described these efforts as creating “shadow” agencies, asserting that Trump has endorsed and supported his group’s work.
Vought’s dedication to these preparations is substantial, with the majority of his time spent devising ways to control federal bureaucracies and planning the logistics of large-scale deportations. He discussed Trump’s proposal for the largest deportation in U.S. history, viewing the expulsion of millions of undocumented immigrants as a means to “save the country.” Vought suggested that this action would help shift the national debate away from multiculturalism.
The Centre for Climate Reporting’s tactics, including creating fake websites and LinkedIn profiles to deceive Vought, are controversial and less common in American journalism but more accepted in the UK. The conservative group Project Veritas has used similar methods, as have some liberal activists. Lawrence Carter, co-founder and director of the Centre, defended these tactics, citing the public interest in revealing Vought’s private comments and their implications for Trump’s potential return to power.
Vought’s nonprofit dismissed the video’s significance, claiming it contained no new revelations. They asserted that their policy work is separate from the Trump campaign, despite the video illustrating Vought’s close ties to the former president and his continued influence on Trump’s policy direction. Trump’s campaign emphasized that only the official campaign and Trump himself represent the policies for a second term.
Russell Vought, who served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump, is a prominent figure in Republican policy circles. After Trump left office, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, positioning it as a leading force in the America First movement. His involvement in Project 2025, a comprehensive 900-page blueprint for Trump’s second term, underscores his central role in shaping conservative policy.
The Centre for Climate Reporting meticulously orchestrated the meeting with Vought, presenting a fabricated story involving a wealthy New Mexico investor interested in supporting Vought’s think tank. During the meeting, Vought spoke freely about various topics, including his relationship with Trump and his thoughts on European politics.
Vought’s preparations for a second Trump term are detailed and extensive, encompassing about 350 documents, including regulations and executive orders. These plans are intended to be kept confidential and only revealed during the transition period if Trump is re-elected. The goal is to ensure Trump’s administration can act swiftly without the need for extensive preparation post-election.
Beyond policy drafting, Vought has been a vocal advocate for culturally conservative goals, such as abortion restrictions and measures against pornography. He believes in prioritizing Christian immigrants and has expressed views on using the military to maintain order, reflecting his broader vision of governance.
Vought’s comments reveal a strategic and determined effort to prepare for Trump’s potential return to the White House, illustrating the depth of planning and the ideological fervor driving Project 2025. The video offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the MAGA movement and the significant preparations underway for a possible second Trump administration.
