Republican Platform, Project 2025 Co-Author Admits Pornography Ban Will Be Done 'From the Back Door'

Republican Platform, Project 2025 Co-Author Admits Pornography Ban Will Be Done 'From the Back Door'

WASHINGTON — Former Donald Trump staffer and Project 2025 co-author Russell Vought told undercover reporters last month that the Heritage Foundation-led initiative has entered its second, more secretive phase with different tactics, including banning pornography “from the back door” through age verification legislation.

Portions of a hidden-camera video of the conversation between the influential Trump and Heritage insider and two reporters pretending to be relatives of a wealthy right-wing donor were published by CNN and the U.K.-based Centre for Climate Reporting on Thursday.

Regarding Project 2025’s proposal to criminalize the production and distribution of adult content, CNN reports that “instead of an unpopular new law banning all pornography,” Vought disclosed that his MAGA think tank, the Center for Renewing America (CRA), would propose “doing it from the back door” by “making pornography websites legally liable if minors use them.”

Vought expressed satisfaction that age verification laws “lead pornography companies to stop doing business.”

As XBIZ reported, the Center for Renewing America was founded in 2021 by former Trump staffers, with the explicit purpose of helping him return to the White House in 2025.

One of the CRA’s senior fellows, Michigan State University law professor Adam Candeub, told the National Conservatism Conference last month that American conservatives “should avoid porn altogether.”

“Bad men, bad male libido,” Candeub, raising his voice, reportedly told a panel audience.

According to CNN, Vought spoke candidly to the undercover reporters for nearly two hours, revealing details of “his behind-the-scenes work to prepare policy for former President Donald Trump, his expansive views on presidential power, his plans to restrict pornography and immigration, and his complaints that the GOP was too focused on ‘religious liberty’ instead of ‘Christian nation-ism.’”

Vought told the reporters that the CRA is “secretly drafting hundreds of executive orders, regulations, and memos that would lay the groundwork for rapid action on Trump’s plans if he wins,” and described his work as “creating ‘shadow’ agencies.”

Vought also claimed that Trump has “blessed” the CRA and is “very supportive” of its work.

CRA spokesperson Rachel Cauley told CNN, “Thank you for airing our perfect conversation emphasizing our policy work is totally separate from the Trump campaign, as we have been saying.”

Last month, the Trump campaign issued a statement attempting to distance itself from Project 2025 and echoing the Republican presidential nominee’s previous claims denying that he was familiar with the initiative or even knows the many former Trump staffers directly associated with it.

An Anti-Porn Trump Insider Who is ‘Pretty Close to Christian Nationalism’

In contrast to attempts by Trump and his campaign to distance themselves from Project 2025, CNN noted that Vought recently served as policy director for the Republican National Convention committee that formulated the party’s new official platform, calling that task “a sign of how central he is to Republicans’ policy goals.”

In the video, CNN reports, Vought also complains that conservatives have “lacked the ability to argue we are a Christian nation” and questions “whether to allow mosques to be built in America’s downtowns, and whether Christian immigrants should be prioritized over those of other faiths — ideas that run contrary to First Amendment protections.”

Vought stresses, “I want to make sure that we can say we are a Christian nation. And my viewpoint is mostly that I would probably be Christian nation-ism. That’s pretty close to Christian nationalism because I also believe in nationalism.”

According to CNN, Vought “argued that it was important to pursue some of the culturally conservative policy goals listed in the Project 2025 blueprint — including abortion restrictions and making pornography illegal.”

In a Washington Post article, columnist Philip Bump contends that Vought’s candid, truthful conversation with the fake donors in the video shows that “the real focus” of groups like his is “to saturate the government” with people sympathetic to Project 2025.

“That’s why Trump can’t escape Vought and the Heritage Foundation,” Bump adds. “It’s not about the book — it’s about the people. And in 2025, unlike 2017, the right is determined not to be caught flat-footed by a Trump victory.”

Main Image: Republican platform and Project 2025 co-author Russell Vought and former boss Donald Trump

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Pineapple Support, Stripchat to Host 'Navigating Thoughts of Suicide' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Stripchat are hosting a free online support group to help performers deal with suicidal ideation.

Plaiir Names Cade Maddox as Lead of Creator Relations

Networking platform Plaiir has appointed Cade Maddox as its new lead of creator relations.

Go.cam Launches 'One-Line Integration' Verification Solution

Go.cam has introduced a one-line code integration for age verification.

XBIZ Amsterdam to Debut 'Behind the Lens' Screening Series

XBIZ is pleased to announce the debut of “Behind the Lens,” a new screening series presenting discussions with noted directors, taking place at the upcoming annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam.

'White Rabbit' Party Headed for XBIZ Amsterdam

XBIZ is pleased to announce the White Rabbit Party, an XBIZ Amsterdam special event set to take place Wednesday, Sept. 3.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Speaker Lineup Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full speaker lineup for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, the latest edition of Europe’s biggest adult industry conference, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel in Amsterdam.

Sara Jay, Dan Leal to Sponsor XBIZ Amsterdam Kick-Off Event

Sara Jay’s Wyde Syde Productions and Porno Dan Leal’s Market64 will co-sponsor the Bottoms Up Day Drinking kick-off event for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 at Excalibur Café on Sept. 2, from 2-4 p.m. (CET).

AEBN Publishes Report on DP Trends

AEBN has published a report on DP and extreme penetration categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Free Speech Coalition Appoints Megan Stokes to Board of Directors

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced today that it has appointed Megan Stokes to its Board of Directors.

FansRevenue Acquires DivaTraffic

FansRevenue has acquired web traffic service DivaTraffic.

Show More