SHOT/CHASER: Trump Denied Knowledge of Project 2025 for Months…Then Praises Project 2025 Author Arrow

SHOT: Donald Trump spent months distancing himself from Project 2025…

Donald Trump: "I know nothing about Project 2025. I have not seen it, have no idea who is in charge of it, and, unlike our very well received Republican Platform, had nothing to do with it."

Donald Trump: "I have nothing to do with Project 2025. I haven't read it. I don't want to read it purposely. I'm not going to read it."

Donald Trump: "They come up with this, I don't know what the hell it is, it's Project 2025, 'He's involved in Project,' and then they read some of the things, and they are extreme, I mean, they're seriously extreme. But I don't know anything about it. I don't want to know anything about it."

CHASER: …now Trump openly praises Russ Vought - the architect of Project 2025 - and is working with him to implement mass layoffs during his government shutdown.

Donald Trump: "I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent."

Donald Trump: "I read enough about it. They have some things that are very conservative and very good."

In response, DNC Deputy Rapid Response Deputy Jaelin O'Halloran released the following statement:

"Donald Trump spent months on the campaign trail lying to voters, claiming that he had 'nothing to do with Project 2025.' Now, Trump admits he's working directly with its chief architect to plan mass layoffs and agency cuts during his government shutdown. Project 2025 has always been Trump's playbook, and nine months into his presidency, he's already enacted nearly half of its proposals - showing no sign of stopping. It's no surprise Trump would use this plan to consolidate power for himself, and Vought is clearly happy to help. Together, they're advancing a dangerous agenda that has sown chaos and dysfunction at the expense of working families."

Reminder: Project 2025 includes plans to fire thousands of federal workers and consolidate presidential power. It's crystal clear that Vought is getting exactly what he wanted, and Trump lied to the American people in his pursuit of power.