Project 2028
Misleading Ads from “Progress 2028” are Targeting the Harris-Walz Campaign
In early October, a new group called Progress 2028 emerged on Facebook, running ads that seemed aligned with the Harris-Walz campaign. However, these ads are designed to sow distrust in the official campaign messages and promote a misleading narrative pushed by Building America’s Future, a non-profit backed by Elon Musk.
What is Progress 2028?
Progress 2028 is a campaign funded by Republican backers who support Donald Trump, aiming to associate Vice President Harris with false policy ideas. Financed by dark money, including contributions from Elon Musk, this group has crafted a website styled to look like a genuine Democratic page, complete with blue colors and fonts associated with the Harris campaign. While it speaks of Vice President Harris with apparent reverence, the policies it promotes are distorted and deceptive.
What’s in the Manifesto?
The Progress 2028 Manifesto is filled with claims that have been repeatedly debunked by experts. Policies listed include titles like “Empowering Undocumented Immigrants, Building Our Future” and “Expanding Medicaid to Undocumented Immigrants.” Many of their Facebook ads target divisive issues such as immigration, gender-affirming care for minors, and a version of the Green New Deal—none of which have been endorsed by the Harris campaign. You can view the full library of their ads: here.
Above is an example of one of their ads targeting Facebook users.
Why is this false and misleading?
This messaging is false and misleading. While Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have supported initiatives to provide immigrant families with housing and a pathway to citizenship, Progress 2028 includes terms like “ease” in a way that implies their policies would eliminate all barriers and circumvent the law—an intentional distortion to provoke public mistrust.
How to fact-check false ads?
In a time when misinformation is prevalent, fact-checking is vital to clarify misleading claims. The Progress 2028 Manifesto contains statements that have been repeatedly debunked by reputable fact-checkers and experts. Their policies—such as “Empowering Undocumented Immigrants, Building Our Future” and “Expanding Medicaid to Undocumented Immigrants”—have been confirmed as distortions by fact-checkers at Politifact and FactCheck.org who emphasize that no such policies are endorsed by the Harris campaign. For verified, accurate information on these issues, it’s essential to rely on nonpartisan fact-checking sources to counteract the false narratives being promoted.