Trump Critic Co-Chairs Vanderbilt ‘Unity and American Democracy’ Project

Jon Meacham

Outspoken former President Donald Trump critic Jon Meacham, who compared Trump’s rhetoric to that of Nazi Germany’s Third Reich, serves as a co-chair of Vanderbilt University’s “Project on Unity and American Democracy.”

Vanderbilt launched the project in 2021 because the United States “has become disconnected from evidence and reason” and suffers from political and ideological polarization, according to its website.

The Ford Foundation, the president of which advises the project, has contributed $500,000, according to the foundation’s grant database. The Ford Foundation was among three U.S. charities that collectively donated more than $10 million to the Chinese government and related entities since 2017, The Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

The Tennessee Star reached out to Vanderbilt University for comment on the project’s activities and funding but did not receive a response.

The project is also co-chaired by former Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Haslam and his former Assistant Commissioner of International Affairs Samar Ali. Former Florida Republican Governor Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton advisor Allida Black, and The New York Times columnist David Brooks advise the project, among others. Senior Advisor to the Chancellor John Geer heads the project.

The project promised that its launch would yield “deliverables such as historical case studies, original empirically driven scholarship, television and podcast opportunities, new courses for both current students and alumni, and conversations with prominent and thoughtful figures from across the political spectrum,” according to its concept document.

Since its launch in early 2021, the project has published 31 articles under the heading “Research and Evidence,” the most recent of which was published on February 14, 2023. Most of the publications are personal essays instead of peer-reviewed studies or academic writing. 

Yes, Every Kid

The project also hosts events featuring guest speakers and publishes the quarterly Vanderbilt Unity Index, which is meant to “track how the country is doing, especially after the terrible events of January 6, 2021,” according to its webpage.

In November 2023, Meacham agreed with MSNBC Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough that Trump should “pay some royalties to Mussolini’s family trust,” comparing Trump’s rhetoric to the Italian dictator’s, The Hill reported.

The two referred to a Truth Social post the former president reportedly made for Veteran’s Day in 2023. In the post, Trump pledged to “root out the Communists, Marxists, Fascists, and Radical Left Thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our Country, lie, steal, and cheat on Elections, and will do anything possible, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America, and the American Dream.”

Meacham said Trump opened the door to “the most ghastly kinds of crimes,” The Hill reported.

Haslam also previously voiced opposition to Trump, saying Republicans who support him are “extreme,” The Star reported at the time. Additionally, Haslam helped lead Senator Tim Scott’s (R-SC) presidential campaign rather than endorse Trump for the 2024 presidential election, The Star also reported

Meacham simultaneously served as a speechwriter for President Joe Biden and a paid contributor for MSNBC until he was dismissed from the network for not disclosing his speechwriting to it.

The project will host a discussion on February 6 between Meacham and former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY-at large) about her perspective on the U.S. Capitol riot of January 6, 2021. Those who wish to attend must register here.

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Matthew Giffin is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Matthew on X / Twitter.
Photo “Jon Meacham” by Jon Meacham. Background Photo “Vanderbilt University Campus” by Stablenode. CC BY-SA 4.0.

 

 

 

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4 Thoughts to “Trump Critic Co-Chairs Vanderbilt ‘Unity and American Democracy’ Project”

  1. Sim

    “Project on Unity and American Democracy.”

    They don’t even know the difference between a “Democracy” and a “Republic”.

    Democrats support all the “Doctrines of Hell”, and people who vote for them are “Partakers of their sins”.

    Ol Joe has every abomination God mentioned working in the white house.

    People have gotten “SO STUPID” they actually believe good things are going to come their way by voting against God and for the Devil.

  2. If you look at the loser “advisors,” that, enough, should tell you all you need about this organization. And Vandy has become a vast wasteland.

  3. levelheadedconservative

    @Randy
    Agreed!

  4. Randy

    Birds of a feather, Bill Haslam, Phil Bredesen and Jon Meachum all believe themselves to be above the laws that govern common people. Their crimes and opinions transcend normal civic behavior. They lack the fundamental understanding that all men are created equal. Their hatred of the constitution, individual freedom, liberty, the ability for average citizens to enjoy the right of self determination and self governance is readily apparent.

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