A new book by the lead strategist of Project 2025—a divisive agenda for Trump’s potential second term—relies heavily on fiery metaphors, advocating conservatives to “burn away” institutions considered adversarial to their cause.
Following Trump’s recent election victory, Joe Biden urged calm in his White House address, calling for an easing of political tensions. Meanwhile, the book’s author, Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, mixes classic quotes with clichés, describing the need for a “controlled burn” targeting entities like the FBI, Ivy League colleges, the Boy Scouts, and prominent media outlets.
Entitled Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America, Roberts’ book employs militant language that has already sparked controversy, particularly through an introduction by Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance. Early excerpts highlight Roberts’ original subtitle, “Burning Down Washington to Save America,” as well as explosive promotional materials.
With Trump now distancing himself from the book, Roberts continues to claim that such “targeted burns” are essential to revive American institutions. Drawing on the image of forest fires as agents of renewal, he emphasizes that reform is insufficient; instead, these institutions must be fully “burned” to allow new, conservative organizations to emerge.
Roberts argues that figures like BlackRock, Ivy League schools, and the Boy Scouts of America represent “hollowed-out” establishments that, rather than fostering positive growth, shelter an elite “corrupt” class. He insists these structures must be removed to restore America, even suggesting that failure to act could lead to greater decay.
Ultimately, Roberts invokes themes of continuity and transformation, viewing fire as both destructive and renewing. He reflects on the importance of “tending” to fires, underscoring his vision for the American conservative movement as a force of “creation” against “destruction.” His work has sparked fresh concern among progressives, especially as Roberts encourages this incendiary approach as a means of political action.
