Did JD Vance write the foreword to a book by the leader of Project 2025? Viral rumor explained

A recent online rumor has raised questions about whether Senator JD Vance authored the foreword to a book by a key figure associated with Project 2025.

This rumor originated in July 2024, when President-elect Donald Trump selected Vance, an Ohio senator, as his Republican running mate. Speculation spread that Vance wrote the foreword for a book linked to Project 2025, authored by Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts.

The rumor has been confirmed — JD Vance did indeed write the foreword for the book. This was verified when Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox, shared a screenshot of the book showing Vance as the foreword's author.

The rumor gained attention again after Donald Trump won the presidential election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, securing 295 electoral votes, according to the Associated Press.

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JD Vance did write the foreword to a book by the leader of Project 2025

Vance wrote the foreword to a book by the leader of Project 2025 (Photo by Tobias Hase/picture alliance via Getty Images)

As mentioned, it has been confirmed that the viral rumor about Vance writing the foreword for a book by the leader of Project 2025 is indeed true.

Despite Trump's continued denial of any connection to Project 2025, attorney Ron Filipkowski shared a tweet in July 2024 in which Trump denied involvement yet acknowledged that Vance authored the book's foreword.

"JD Vance just wrote the Forward to the book coming out that explains Project 2025 in greater detail and encouraged everyone to buy it," Filipkowski wrote.

Another confirmation of the rumor came when Andrew Prokop posted a tweet on X, displaying the book's original title, Dawn's Early Light: Burning Down Washington to Save America, which lists JD Vance as the foreword author alongside Kevin Roberts, the book's author.

Additionally, Snopes reported that the book was initially scheduled for publication in September 2024, but its release was postponed due to the elections and is now set for November 15, 2024.

The delayed release and Trump's election victory have renewed interest in the rumor. However, according to Snopes, the author explained that he postponed the release to avoid stirring public disputes over the book during the election season.

"There's a time for writing, reading, and book tours — and a time to put down the books and go fight like hell to take back our country. … That's why I've chosen to move my book's publication and promotion to after the election," Roberts said.

As reported by Snopes, Roberts heads the Heritage Foundation, the leading group behind Project 2025. The publishing outlet Publisher's Lunch linked the book to Project 2025's conservative policy agenda.

The book credits show Vance's name (Image via X/@awprokop)

In August 2024, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, during his inaugural speech, asserted that JD Vance had indeed written the foreword. Vice President Kamala Harris was present, standing behind him as he made this statement.

"JD Vance literally, literally wrote the foreword for the architect of the Project 2025 agenda," Walz said.

According to the BBC, Project 2025 is an initiative primarily aimed at shaping conservative policy priorities for the U.S. in the lead-up to the 2025 presidential term.

The project has attracted considerable attention for its goals and the influential figures involved, leading many to closely examine any public official's actions.

According to Snopes, the book's new title is Dawn's Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America. However, neither JD Vance nor Donald Trump has commented on the news.