Investigating Trump, Project 2025 and the future of the United States | Four Corners

There has never been a US president like Donald Trump — and now he’s back, this time with a detailed plan for his second coming.

Nearly four years after he was cast out by voters and accused of encouraging the American people to assault their own democracy with the attack on the US Capitol, the now convicted criminal wants to rebuild the country in his own image.

Ahead of the US election in November, Four Corners reporter Mark Willacy travels to Washington for the first of a special two-part series.

He sits down with White House insiders who witnessed the chaos of Trump’s first term — some who continue to support his vision, and others Trump now considers “traitors”.

Trump wants to reshape the pillars of American democracy and give himself more power. Willacy goes inside “Project 2025”, the blueprint for a second Trump term and the army of recruits ready to carry out his orders.

Meanwhile strategy, security and defence experts warn of the impact another Trump presidency could have on America’s institutions, its democracy, and the rest of the world.

CHAPTERS
00:00 - Trump, Justice and Retribution
02:08 - Assassination attempt
03:50 - Trump’s second coming
04:42 - Battle for democracy
06:07 - Anonymous
09:31 - “He’s an idiot’’
11:48 - Traitors
14:51 -Trump and Russia
17:25 - NATO
22:18 - Dictator on day one
23:40 - What is Project 2025?
26:35 - Nonsensical Americans
35:10 - The Department of Justice
40:50 - National Security
43:54 - January 6 Capitol riots
52:25 -Threat of civil disorder

INTERVIEWEES
08:26: Miles Taylor, Former Chief of Staff, Department of Homeland Security
10:48: Sebastian Gorka, Former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump
12:07: John Bolton, Former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump
13:33: Leon Panetta, Former CIA director
14:51: Peter Strzok, Former Deputy Assist, Director, Former Counter-Intelligence
19:41: Chad Wolf, Former acting secretary, department of homeland security
20:41: Gordon Sondland, former US Ambassador to the European Union
23:14: Paul Dans, Project 2025 director
25:54: Anthony Scaramucci, Former Communications Director to Donald Trump
28:52: Erica Newland, Former attorney, Department of Justice
30:19: Charlie Dent, Former Republican Congressman
38:55: Zoe Lofgren, Democratic Congresswoman
43:54: Temidayo Aganga-Williams, Senior Investigative Counsel, January 6 Committee

This episode was originally broadcast as Four Corners: ‘Retribution Part 1’, on 15 July 2024 on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Read more about Four Corners’ investigation here: https://bit.ly/3Wkme3b

Four Corners is Australia’s premier investigations documentary series.

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