In a recent development, law professor Erwin Chemerinsky has voiced his concerns over Project 2025, describing it as "deeply frightening." This follows remarks made by Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, where he claimed that the United States is currently experiencing a "Second American Revolution" against "elites" and "despotic bureaucrats."

Roberts made these comments during an appearance on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast, expressing his approval of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. He proclaimed that a "vigorous executive" was crucial for the country. This ruling has served as a boost for The Heritage Foundation, the creators of the controversial 900-page Project 2025 document, which aims to expand the powers of the presidency and eliminate "deep state" civil servants, replacing them with conservative loyalists.

Professor Chemerinsky, an expert in constitutional law and dean of UC Berkeley Law School, vehemently opposed Roberts' vision for the federal government. He stated that it was "inconsistent with the structure and goals of the Constitution" and warned that it could potentially lead to an authoritarian government. Chemerinsky dismissed Roberts' claims of a revolution against a leftist government, pointing out that more than half of the states have Republican-majority legislatures and that the Supreme Court itself leans conservative.

Chemerinsky also expressed agreement with the three dissenting Supreme Court justices, criticizing the breadth of immunity granted to the president as "stunning." He argued that this decision allows the president to engage in activities such as assassinating political rivals, seeking retribution through the Justice Department, or accepting bribes for pardons without fear of prosecution. According to Chemerinsky, this expansion of executive power contradicts the intentions of the Founding Fathers, who held deep mistrust for such authority.

In response to the professor's criticism, Roberts defended his position in an interview with Newsweek, stating that Americans in 2024 are "patriots committed to peaceful revolution at the ballot box." He elaborated on his views through X, formerly known as Twitter, discussing the severity of the situation and the need to destroy institutions that are perceived as hostile to human flourishing.

However, Roberts' comments have not been universally embraced within conservative policy circles. Analyst Avik Roy, a former strategist for prominent Republicans such as Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, and Marco Rubio, expressed his concerns over Roberts' lack of clarity regarding the situation. Roy observed that Roberts' implication of the situation being more dire than the American Revolution might be interpreted as justifying violence.

While Roy acknowledged the need for reform to hold unelected bureaucrats accountable, he questioned the practicality of Project 2025 in its current form. Roy cast doubt on the notion that the proposed policies would be adopted under a potential second Trump administration, suggesting that the Heritage Foundation's influence had been overestimated. He emphasized that Trump is unlikely to take orders from the think tank and argued that it was more likely for Heritage to align with Trump's agenda and policy desires.

As the debate over Project 2025 continues, the clash of viewpoints highlights the ongoing struggle between different interpretations of the Constitution and the role of government in the United States.