Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Caught in Project 2025 Controversy Despite Denials
WASHINGTON D.C. — Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary under President Donald Trump, is facing renewed scrutiny over her involvement with Project 2025, a right-wing policy initiative backed by The Heritage Foundation. While she has publicly denied any direct connection between the Trump administration and the project, evidence shows that she played a role in its training and advisory efforts before joining the administration.
During an August 2024 interview, Leavitt stated, “Project 2025 has nothing to do with our campaign,” emphasizing that Trump’s policy agenda was focused on his own framework, known as Agenda 47. However, Leavitt previously contributed to Project 2025’s “Conservative Governance 101” training program and appeared in a training video titled “The Art of Professionalism.” In the video, she discussed her experiences working in the Trump White House during his first term and offered guidance to potential future members of a conservative administration. She concluded her remarks by encouraging trainees, stating, “So best of luck, and if you need us as a resource, we are here to help.”
Project 2025 serves as a policy blueprint for Trump’s second term, with recommendations on executive power, the federal workforce, and governance strategies. CNN has reported that “at least 140 people who worked in the Trump administration had a hand in Project 2025.” Additionally, Vice President J.D. Vance wrote the foreword to a book by the project’s chief architect, Kevin Roberts.
Leavitt previously worked as a communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and later became a Newsmax contributor. She also ran for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, positioning herself as an outspoken conservative.
While Leavitt has sought to separate the Trump administration from Project 2025, her past involvement in the initiative raises questions about its influence within the White House. Trump himself has publicly stated he is “not familiar” with Project 2025, but its connections to his allies and administration officials continue to fuel debate.
