Conservative think tank behind Project 2025 warns Biden might hold White House 'by force' in controversial report

WASHINGTON, DC: In a provocative move amidst the buildup to the 2024 presidential election, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has released a report suggesting that President Joe Biden could attempt to retain power "by force" if he loses at the polls.

This alarming claim, presented in a scenario-based analysis, paints a stark picture of potential post-election turmoil. "The lawlessness of the Biden Administration — at the border, in staffing considerations, and in routine defiance of court rulings — makes clear that the current president and his administration not only possesses the means, but perhaps also the intent, to circumvent constitutional limits and disregard the will of the voters should they demand a new president," the report asserts.

Heritage Foundation doubles down on election integrity concerns

This assertion stands in stark contrast to Joe Biden's own public assurances of accepting election results. Despite such assurances, the Heritage Foundation, known for its support of former President Donald Trump, continues to amplify concerns over election integrity, echoing past claims of election fraud that fueled the events of January 6, 2021, at the US Capitol.

During a recent news conference, Heritage Foundation representatives doubled down on their apprehensions regarding the upcoming election, a tactic reminiscent of Trump's own strategies to contest unfavorable election outcomes. "As things stand right now, there is a zero percent chance of a free and fair election in the United States of America," remarked Mike Howell, Executive Director of the foundation’s Oversight Project, emphasizing their skepticism about the electoral process.

Critics, however, have sharply rebuked these assertions. Election law expert Rick Hasen denounced the report as "gaslighting" and cautioned against its potential to incite violence. “This is gaslighting and it is dangerous in fanning flames that could lead to potential violence,” said the professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Hasen emphasized that there has been no credible indication that Biden intends to retain power through illegitimate means.

Biden campaign denounces Heritage Foundation's claims

In response to the Heritage Foundation's report, Joe Biden's campaign swiftly denounced the claims as baseless and accused the group of attempting to undermine confidence in the electoral process. They referenced the foundation's broader agenda, including a controversial blueprint titled Project 2025, which advocates for substantial changes to federal governance.

“This document is nothing more than an attempt to justify their efforts to suppress the vote, undermine the election, and ultimately another January 6,” said spokesperson for the campaign James Singer, per Huff Post. Amidst these contentious claims, the Heritage Foundation defended its report, citing bipartisan role-playing exercises aimed at predicting potential election outcomes.

Call for public scrutiny on election security

The foundation’s recommendations urge the public to scrutinize official narratives, particularly those from the intelligence community, concerning election security. The report was developed as part of a joint initiative known as the 'Transition Integrity Project' initiated by Heritage in January in response to Joe Biden’s alleged “weaponization of government” and his purported “violation of norms and constitutional limits on executive power.”

Drawing inspiration from a similarly named group that conducted a simulation in 2020 anticipating potential challenges to election results by Trump, Howell remarked on what he perceived as ideological bias in their efforts, contrasting it with the Heritage Foundation’s claim of bipartisan approach in their own project.

The report's publication coincides with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts' recent statement on Steve Bannon’s 'War Room' podcast, where he suggested that the nation is currently experiencing a “second American Revolution,” predicting it could be non-violent “if the left allows it to be.”