He knows he will never win as the tribune of the right.
The least persuasive argument against Donald Trump is that he is a committed ideologue, bent on fulfilling the conservative movement’s long-standing wish list. In reality, Trump defied conservative policy orthodoxy when he won the 2016 GOP primary, and he continues to disappoint those who adhere to it this time around.
A recent incident brought this divide into sharp focus: Trump’s rejection of Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation-led initiative to organize staffing and set the agenda for his potential second term. The former president’s response was blunt and unequivocal.
Trump took to Truth Social to dismiss the initiative, saying, “I know nothing about Project 2025. 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.”
This remark encapsulates Trump’s constant disavowal of conventional conservative ideas and institutions. While the Heritage Foundation and similar organizations have long been pillars of the American conservative movement, Trump’s approach has always been distinct, even adversarial, to the established conservative agenda.
Trump’s rejection of such projects signals that he’s not willing to simply be the ideological servant of the right. His appeal has always been more populist than purist, relying on his personal brand of rebellion against the Washington establishment rather than adhering to traditional conservative policy frameworks.
The dismissal of Project 2025 highlights the extent to which Trump operates outside the typical party structures and intellectual traditions. He has never fully embraced the role of being a standard-bearer for the conservative movement; instead, his political identity has been built on his outsider status, which resonates deeply with a significant portion of the electorate.
In the end, Trump’s rejection of a major conservative think tank’s plan may isolate him further from the traditional GOP establishment, but it is precisely this disconnection that fuels his appeal. His success, both past and present, shows that his strength lies not in aligning with conservative ideologies but in challenging the very institutions that represent them.
