Trump’s real health care agenda isn’t in Project 2025 — it’s in his own words

WASHINGTON — Former President Trump has made it abundantly clear that nobody else speaks for him.

That hasn’t stopped Democrats from trying to tie Trump to a compilation of policy suggestions led by the conservative Heritage Foundation called Project 2025, even though Trump himself has repeatedly disavowed the document. The document has drawn outsized attention since some former Trump aides participated, including a civil rights lawyer who led the health section and focused mostly on aggressive abortion restrictions.

But there may be more reliable indicators of Trump’s plans on health care policy. Former Trump White House economic adviser Theo Merkel, who’s now working on health policy at the right-leaning Paragon Health Institute and the Manhattan Institute, said there’s only one place to look for Trump’s policies: what actually comes out of the former president’s mouth.

STAT+ Exclusive Story

Already have an account? Log in

This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers

Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+.

Already have an account? Log in

Individual plans

Group plans

Monthly

$39

Totals $468 per year

$39/month Get Started

Totals $468 per year

Starter

$30

for 3 months, then $399/year

$30 for 3 months Get Started

Then $399/year

Annual

$399

Save 15%

$399/year Get Started

Save 15%

11+ Users

Custom

Savings start at 25%!

Request A Quote Request A Quote

Savings start at 25%!

2-10 Users

$300

Annually per user

$300/year Get Started

$300 Annually per user

View All Plans

To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+.

Subscribe

Log In