On the same day the director of the far-right presidential transition plan known as Project 2025 stepped down ― and amid Donald Trump’s attempts to distance himself from it ― news outlets published a book excerpt tying Trump’s running mate directly to the project’s organizers.

Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s vice presidential nominee, wrote the foreword for the upcoming book “Dawn’s Early Light,” penned by Project 2025 architect and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. The book, as described by the publisher, provides a path for Americans to “take back their country.”

“The Heritage Foundation isn’t some random outpost on Capitol Hill; it is and has been the most influential engine of ideas for Republicans from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump,” Vance writes in the book’s foreword, which was obtained by The New Republic and the Associated Press.

He also uses violent language, saying it’s time for conservatives to “circle the wagons and load the muskets.”

Vance isn’t the only one with ties to the think tank and its work. Several of Trump’s former White House advisers and current campaign aides have also been involved in Project 2025. Still, Trump’s campaign has denied any connection to it.

“President Trump’s campaign has been very clear for over a year that Project 2025 had nothing to do with the campaign, did not speak for the campaign, and should not be associated with the campaign or the President in any way,” the campaign said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Reports of Project 2025’s demise would be greatly welcomed and should serve as notice to anyone or any group trying to misrepresent their influence with President Trump and his campaign — it will not end well for you.”

HuffPost reached out to Trump’s campaign spokesperson but did not receive an immediate response.