Former RNC Chair Michael Steele blasts Trump over post distancing self from Project 2025

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele criticized former President Donald Trump for his remarks distancing himself from the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025.

On Friday, Trump indicated he had no connection to Project 2025, a presidential transition and policy plan affiliated with the think tank and other conservative organizations.

"I know nothing about Project 2025," Trump posted on Truth Social. "I have no idea who is behind it. 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."

Steele, a former lieutenant governor of Maryland, blasted Trump's remarks in a post on X, calling it a "coincidence" that Project 2025 appears similar to some of Trump's policy priorities.

"Ok, let’s all play with Stupid for minute…so exactly how do you 'disagree' with something you 'know nothing about' or 'have no idea' who is behind, saying or doing the thing you disagree with?" Steele wrote.

"Since #Project2025 is designed to institutionalize Trumpism and you know nothing about it, then why do you echo some of its policy priorities during your rallies? Coincidence? And how exactly don’t you know that Project 2025 Director Paul Dans served as your chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management, and Associate Director Spencer Chretien served as your special assistant and associate director of presidential personnel? And folks say we should be worried about Biden."

In 2020, Steele joined the Lincoln Project PAC and endorsed President Biden, according to The Hill.

The Biden-Harris campaign responded to Trump's remarks, writing in a post on X, "A desperate and lying Trump claims he knows 'nothing' about his Project 2025 agenda, even though his top aides are the ones behind the plan."

The campaign also shared a clip of Trump at the Heritage Foundation, captioning the post, "Here is Trump saying he 'needs' the Heritage Foundation, the organization behind Project 2025, in order to 'achieve' his extreme MAGA agenda."

Project 2025 released a statement on X following the Biden-Harris campaign's remarks:

"As we’ve been saying for more than two years now, Project 2025 does not speak for any candidate or campaign. We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy & personnel recommendations for the next conservative president.

"But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement. Rather than obsessing over Project 2025, the Biden campaign should be addressing the 25th Amendment."