Stantooley's Episode 1: The Heritage Foundation, Project 2025, and Donald Trump

Relationships and actors within the conservative ecosystem

ChatGPT Prompt:

“Please identify how closely Donald Trump is to the Heritage Foundation by searching articles, meetings, donations, associations, and associates”

Usage Instructions

Prompt Purpose: Understanding the Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 and its political ecosystems.

Copy and paste the prompt into your own ChatGPT session or use my session at ChatGPT The Heritage Foundation, Project 2025, Trump, and other Conservative Actors. Start with the series of prompts below, then ask your own questions. In addition, by running the prompts yourself, you will receive links to reference source sites.

This is real-time content so the results will change depending on the date and time the process is run. ChatGPT will learn and improve each time the prompt is used.

You said:

Please identify how closely Donald Trump is to the Heritage Foundation by searching articles, meetings, donations, associations, and associates

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Searched 4 sites

Donald Trump has maintained a significant relationship with the Heritage Foundation, which has had a notable influence on his policy decisions and administration. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, provided a wealth of policy recommendations that aligned with Trump's "America First" agenda. During his presidency, Trump adopted around two-thirds of the Heritage Foundation's recommendations from their Mandate for Leadership series, which included policies related to reducing the federal government's size, increasing military spending, and reshaping national monuments​.

Heritage's influence extended into Trump's administration, with many former Heritage employees serving in key positions within his government. Trump's administration closely collaborated with Heritage on regulatory changes and other conservative policy initiatives, such as repealing net neutrality and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord​.

In recent years, Trump has continued to engage with the Heritage Foundation, delivering keynote speeches at their events and endorsing some of their strategic priorities, such as securing America's borders and holding Big Tech accountable​.

However, despite past endorsements, Trump has distanced himself from Heritage's recent Project 2025—a detailed conservative blueprint aimed at reshaping government policy under a future Republican president. While he has spoken favorably about the Heritage Foundation, Trump has publicly criticized some of the project's proposals​.

Overall, while Trump has distanced himself from some recent Heritage projects, the think tank continues to play a critical role in shaping conservative policies that resonate with Trump's political base and influence his agenda.

You said:

Based on his prior relationship is there a strong probability that his distancing is only in appearance?

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

There is a strong possibility that Donald Trump's distancing from the Heritage Foundation, particularly regarding Project 2025, may be more of a strategic move rather than a complete ideological departure. Throughout his presidency, Trump heavily relied on Heritage's policy recommendations, and the relationship was mutually beneficial.

Trump has a history of aligning with Heritage on key conservative issues, including deregulation, military spending, and tax reforms​. Despite public statements distancing himself from Project 2025, Trump's past reliance on Heritage's expertise and the involvement of former Heritage staffers in his administration suggest that his public distancing could be aimed at creating a specific image or addressing tactical concerns rather than signaling a deep ideological rift​.

Additionally, Trump has shown a pattern of recalibrating his public stance based on political circumstances. His continued engagement with Heritage events and endorsement of certain strategic goals, such as border security and economic policies, implies that he may still share many of the same policy objectives​(

Thus, while Trump might distance himself from specific projects, the alignment on broader conservative principles suggests that this distancing could be more of a political maneuver than a substantive break from Heritage's influence.

You said:

Does Trump provide any financial support or in-kind services (for example free speaking engagements, etc.) to the Heritage Foundation?

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Searched 6 sites

Donald Trump has provided in-kind support to the Heritage Foundation primarily through high-profile speaking engagements, such as keynote addresses at major Heritage events. For example, Trump delivered a keynote speech at Heritage’s Annual Leadership Conference in 2022, which served as a way for him to engage with Heritage’s donor base and conservative supporters. This type of contribution bolsters the foundation’s influence without direct financial contributions from Trump​.

While there is no publicly available evidence suggesting Trump has made significant direct financial donations to the Heritage Foundation, his in-kind contributions, such as speeches and endorsements, play a critical role in maintaining the close relationship between his political platform and Heritage’s policy agenda. Moreover, the Trump administration worked closely with Heritage, employing many of its staffers and following a large number of its policy recommendations during his presidency​.

You said:

The Heritage Foundation Project 2025 is supported by 100 conservative organizations, please list.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Searched 5 sites

Project 2025, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, has garnered support from over 100 conservative organizations. These groups have come together to shape the policy, personnel, and training for a future Republican administration starting in 2025. The coalition includes well-known conservative organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Turning Point USA, Family Research Council, Young America’s Foundation, National Center for Public Policy Research, Texas Public Policy Foundation, and Students for Life of America. These organizations aim to influence major areas of governance, including education, energy, healthcare, and immigration.

The full list of participating organizations also includes lesser-known but influential groups such as the 1792 Exchange, American Principles Project, The Claremont Institute, and Liberty University. The coalition is focused on comprehensive federal reform and advancing conservative ideals, including limiting government size and power while promoting Christian values.

This large network of organizations is indicative of the significant groundwork laid to impact future governance on a wide range of policy issues.

You said:

list more

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Here are more organizations that support Project 2025:

1. American Accountability Foundation

2. American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists

3. Alabama Policy Institute

4. American Compass

5. American Council of Trustees and Alumni

6. America First Legal

7. Center for Immigration Studies

8. The Claremont Institute

9. Competitive Enterprise Institute

10. Concerned Women for America

11. Ethics and Public Policy Center

12. Family Policy Alliance

13. First Liberty Institute

14. Heartland Institute

15. Hillsdale College

16. Independent Women’s Forum

17. Institute for Energy Research

18. Moms for Liberty

19. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America

20. Tea Party Patriots

21. Teneo Network

22. Young America’s Foundation

These organizations work on various aspects of conservative policy, including education, legal reform, pro-life advocacy, energy policy, and more​.

Yo said:

list more

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Here are additional organizations that are part of the Project 2025 coalition:

23. American Family Association

24. American Moment

25. American Juris Link

26. Center for Family and Human Rights (C-Fam)

27. Center for Renewing America

28. Citizens Against Government Waste

29. Defense of Freedom Institute

30. Discovery Institute

31. Eagle Forum

32. Foundation for Government Accountability

33. The Frederick Douglass Foundation

34. Keystone Policy

35. Job Creators Network

36. Mississippi Center for Public Policy

37. National Association of Scholars

38. Public Interest Legal Foundation

39. Republicans Overseas Foundation

40. Stop Abusive and Violent Environments

41. Mountain States Policy Center

42. Pacific Research Institute

43. Palmetto Promise

44. Patrick Henry College

45. Recovery for America Now Foundation

These groups span various sectors, from policy think tanks to educational institutions and advocacy organizations, focusing on conservative governance, economic reform, legal policy, and social issues​.

You said:

Does Trump have a relationship via speaking, funding, campaigning, etc with any of the Project 2025 support organizations.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

You said:

Does Trump have a relationship via speaking, funding, campaigning, etc with any of the Project 2025 support organizations.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Yes, Donald Trump has significant relationships with several organizations that support Project 2025, primarily through speaking engagements, campaign collaboration, and shared policy initiatives. Below are some key organizations where these relationships are evident:

1. Heritage Foundation: Trump has delivered keynote speeches at multiple Heritage events, including their Annual Leadership Conference in 2022. During his presidency, he implemented many Heritage-recommended policies, and numerous former Heritage employees served in his administration​.

2. American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC): ALEC, a major conservative policy organization, shares many policy priorities with Trump, especially on deregulation and economic reform. While no direct financial ties are publicized, Trump's policy alignment with ALEC’s goals suggests a strong ideological relationship.

3. Family Research Council (FRC): Trump has spoken at events organized by the Family Research Council, particularly at the annual Values Voter Summit, which is one of FRC's flagship gatherings. The FRC has supported Trump's pro-life and religious liberty stances, further strengthening their connection​.

4. Turning Point USA: Trump has a well-known relationship with Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization. He has spoken at their events multiple times, including their Student Action Summit. His son, Donald Trump Jr., is also closely associated with the organization​.

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5. Tea Party Patriots: Trump has maintained close ties with the Tea Party movement, which shares his goals of reducing government size and promoting fiscal conservatism. He has campaigned alongside Tea Party-affiliated politicians and supported their causes.

6. Students for Life of America: This organization, focused on anti-abortion advocacy, has a strong relationship with Trump, who has spoken at multiple pro-life events, including the March for Life, where he was the first sitting president to do so. His administration’s policies aligned with the organization’s goals​.

These relationships through speeches, policy collaboration, and shared ideological goals show that Trump is closely connected with many of the organizations supporting Project 2025, even if there are no direct financial ties.

You said:

Please list other high-profile politicians, non-politicians, business leaders associated with the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Here are some high-profile politicians, non-politicians, and business leaders associated with the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025:

Politicians:

1. Mike Pence - Former Vice President and longtime ally of the Heritage Foundation. Pence has a history of supporting the think tank’s conservative policies and was closely associated with Trump’s administration, which implemented many Heritage recommendations​

2. Ron DeSantis - Governor of Florida and potential future presidential candidate. DeSantis has championed several conservative policies aligned with Heritage’s agenda, especially in education and government regulation​.

3. Jim DeMint - Former U.S. Senator and president of the Heritage Foundation (2013-2017). DeMint helped the foundation regain prominence, particularly by supporting the Tea Party movement and aligning closely with Trump​.

4. Tom Cotton - U.S. Senator from Arkansas. Cotton has frequently worked with the Heritage Foundation on national security and immigration issues. He has been a speaker at Heritage events and is considered aligned with Project 2025's goals​.

5. Ted Cruz - U.S. Senator from Texas. Cruz has been a frequent speaker at Heritage events and is closely aligned with the organization's conservative policy agenda, particularly around the judiciary, constitutional issues, and tax policy​.

Non-Politicians and Business Leaders:

1. Leonard Leo - Former executive vice president of the Federalist Society, who has worked closely with the Heritage Foundation, especially on judicial appointments. He was instrumental in shaping the judiciary under Trump​

2. Kevin Roberts - Current president of the Heritage Foundation. Roberts plays a key role in shaping the organization's direction and in spearheading initiatives like Project 2025, which aim to influence future conservative governance​.

3. Ben Carson - Former HUD Secretary under Trump and founder of the American Cornerstone Institute, one of the organizations supporting Project 2025. Carson’s policy initiatives closely align with Heritage’s conservative values​.

4. Rebekah Mercer - Conservative donor and philanthropist, linked to the Heritage Foundation and other conservative causes. Mercer has provided significant financial backing to various conservative organizations, including those aligned with Heritage​.

5. Mark Meadows - Former Trump Chief of Staff and founder of the Conservative Partnership Institute, a key supporter of Project 2025. Meadows maintains a strong connection to Heritage and its initiatives​.

These figures, through their alignment with Heritage and Project 2025, have shaped the conservative movement’s policy and governance agenda, especially in anticipation of future Republican administrations.

You said:

list more

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Here are additional high-profile politicians, non-politicians, and business leaders associated with the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025:

Politicians:

6. Josh Hawley - U.S. Senator from Missouri. Hawley has supported numerous conservative policies that align with the Heritage Foundation’s agenda, particularly around judicial reform, big tech regulation, and national security​.

7. J.D. Vance - U.S. Senator from Ohio. Vance is closely connected with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts and has written forewords for books associated with Heritage's mission. Vance's political positions align with many of the priorities outlined in Project 2025.

8. Marsha Blackburn - U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Blackburn has appeared at Heritage Foundation events and supports policies that closely align with the organization's conservative agenda, especially on issues like free speech, national security, and pro-life advocacy​.

Non-Politicians and Business Leaders:

6. Stephen Miller - Former senior advisor to President Trump and key architect of the administration’s immigration policies. Miller has worked with Heritage on immigration reform, particularly advocating for more stringent enforcement measures that align with the organization’s recommendations​.

7. Russ Vought - Former Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Trump and a key figure in Project 2025. Vought has close ties to the Heritage Foundation through his organization, the Center for Renewing America, which is a partner in the project​.

8. Robert Bluey - Vice President of Communications at the Heritage Foundation. Bluey has played a significant role in shaping Heritage’s messaging on policy issues, particularly in support of the Trump administration’s goals​.

9. Ken Cuccinelli - Former Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and former Attorney General of Virginia. Cuccinelli worked closely with the Trump administration on immigration policies that align with Heritage’s recommendations. He remains a strong advocate for Project 2025's goals.

10. Kellyanne Conway - Former Senior Counselor to President Trump. Conway has worked with Heritage on messaging and policy initiatives related to family values, and she remains a key figure in conservative circles connected to Project 2025.

These individuals, through their policy work, public endorsements, or organizational leadership, play significant roles in shaping the conservative movement in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025. Their influence extends across political, legal, and social policy domains.