How did 'Project 2025' talk erupt? BET Awards host Taraji P. Henson's comments offer clues
Project 2025, a far-reaching conservative plan to dismantle government as we know it, seems to be everywhere recently.
A couple of Donald Trump's vice president potentials went on the defense during Sunday news appearances, saying Trump was not beholden to the 2025 Presidential Transition Project if he wins a second term. President Joe Biden published a social media video Wednesday morning, saying, "Project 2025 will destroy America. Look it up."
But the 900-page mandate was published in April 2023, so how did it become a top talking point amid key election questions like Trump's VP pick and Biden's candidacy?
Here is what we know about how Project 2025 started trending:
Project 2025: JD Vance, Marco Rubio say Donald Trump isn't beholden to sweeping conservative plan known as Project 2025
Project 2025: Biden, Democrats take aim at Project 2025, the sweeping, 900-page conservative plan
Before Biden's debate disaster, plans in place for Dems to focus on Project 2025: reports
Google Trends tracks the relative search interest of terms, with 100 being the peak popularity and 50 meaning the term was half a as popular compared to its peak.
"Project 2025" reached 100 on July 9 and 10, following a drastic uptick from June 30 when interest was at 18.
Throughout late May and early June, murmurings of Project 2025 made rounds amongst politicians, especially Democrats who criticize the project. Representatives Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., admonished the plan on the House floor. Pressley's video made it to TikTok, where several users have also been talking about over the last several weeks.
Before Biden's disastrous performance at the first debate, his campaign planned to seize the moment to use Project 2025 to show voters what could be at risk with a second Trump presidency, Axios reported. The outlet also reported the campaign launched its Project 2025 webpage the day of the debate, and planned to push the messaging through social media.
Trump has tried to distance himself from the plan, saying he knows "nothing" about it.
Google Trends search interest starts to pick up around the time of the debate, but days later, it made it onto a star-studded stage.
Project 2025 goes mainstream with BET Award host Taraji P. Henson pleas
On June 30, Taraji P. Henson hosted the BET Awards 2024, which welcomed performers like Will Smith, Ice Spice and Megan Thee Stallion
In a lively speech after a video calling on the the audience to vote in the election, Henson said it was not just about the presidential candidates.
"Pay attention, it's not a secret, look it up," she said in a clip posted by The Hollywood Reporter. "They are attacking our most vulnerable citizens. The Project 2025 plan is not a game. Look it up!"
While closing out the show, she doubled down on the message.
"I love you all. Make sure you vote. It is very serious. Freedoms are being taken away from us," she said. "Do the research. Look up 2025 agenda, because next year this time could look very different if you don't vote."
The award show drew in more than 3 million viewers, according to a press release by BET. The network also said in the release that Henson's mention of Project 2025 prompted a quadruple increase in searches for the term.
Throughout the week following her speech, Google Trends shows search interest rose from a relative interest score of 18 to a score in the nineties.
What is Project 2025?
Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation created the "Mandate for Leadership" as part of the 2025 Presidential Transition Project, including 900-pages of policy recommendations to "rescue the country from the grip of the radical Left."
It attacks policies implemented by Biden and President Barack Obama, including student loan forgiveness and Obamacare. It also suggests overhauling federal agencies like the FBI, abolishing the Department of Education, reversing federal approval of abortion pills and bolstering powers for immigration officials to deport undocumented immigrants.
While Trump has denied his involvement with the project, several authors on the project worked in the former Trump administration.
Contributing: Rachel Barber, David Jackson, Savannah Kuchar
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Project 2025 trending? Taraji P. Henson may be reason
