The leader of a conservative think tank, orchestrating plans for a massive overhaul of the federal government in the event of a Republican presidential win, has declared that the country is in the midst of a “second American Revolution” that will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.” Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts made these comments on Tuesday during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast. He emphasized that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back,” and noted that Democrats are “apoplectic right now” because the right is winning.
Roberts’ remarks provide insight into the mindset of a group that could wield significant influence over a potential second term for former President Donald Trump. The Heritage Foundation is leading Project 2025, a comprehensive plan for a new GOP administration. This plan includes dismantling various aspects of the federal government and replacing thousands of civil servants with Trump loyalists who will implement a hard-right agenda without resistance.
The call for revolution and the vague reference to potential violence have unsettled some Democrats, who view it as a threat. Former Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson expressed her concern on the social platform X, stating, “This is chilling. Their idea of a second American Revolution is to undo the first one.”
James Singer, a spokesperson for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, also responded to Roberts’ comments. In an emailed statement, Singer pointed to the Fourth of July holiday, saying, “248 years ago tomorrow America declared independence from a tyrannical king, and now Donald Trump and his allies want to make him one at our expense.” He added that Trump and his allies are “dreaming of a violent revolution to destroy the very idea of America.”
Roberts, whose name Bannon recently suggested to The New York Times as a potential chief of staff for Trump, also mentioned on the podcast that Republicans should be encouraged by the Supreme Court’s recent immunity ruling. He described Monday’s decision, which grants presidents broad immunity from prosecution, as “vital” to ensure that a president won’t have to “second guess, triple guess every decision they’re making in their official capacity.”
In an emailed statement on Wednesday, Roberts reiterated his podcast comments, asserting that Americans “are in the process of carrying out the Second American Revolution to take power back from the elites and despotic bureaucrats.” He emphasized that these patriots are committed to a peaceful revolution at the ballot box. However, he also claimed that “it’s the Left that has a long history of violence, so it’s up to them to allow a peaceful transfer of power.”
Roberts pointed to the protests following the killing of George Floyd by police in 2020, some of which escalated into crime, vandalism, and violence. Democrats, in turn, have accused Republicans of violence, citing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot where Trump supporters attempted to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden.
Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, described Roberts’ comments about a “second American Revolution” as “a bit terrifying but also elucidating.” The 1,000-page Project 2025 playbook calls for extensive changes in government, including rolling back protections for the LGBTQ community and infusing Christianity more deeply into society. Beirich stated, “Roberts, the Heritage Foundation, and its allies in Project 2025 want to reorder American society and fundamentally change it. He’s said the quiet part out loud.”
The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a detailed blueprint for a new Republican administration. It aims to dismantle various federal government structures and replace thousands of civil servants with Trump loyalists. This plan is part of a broader effort to implement a hard-right agenda without opposition.
Roberts’ comments have sparked significant concern among Democrats and other political observers. The notion of a “second American Revolution” and the potential for violence have raised alarms about the future of American democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.
As the country approaches the 2024 election, the rhetoric and plans outlined by Roberts and the Heritage Foundation will likely continue to be a focal point of political debate. The implications of Project 2025 and the vision of a “second American Revolution” will be closely scrutinized by both supporters and critics.
Source: Associated Press
