The Lincoln Project, a group of republicans working to overthrow Donald Trump

Team Udayavani, Aug 28, 2020, 11:30 AM IST

A political action group called the Lincoln Project has launched a campaign against President Donald Trump on social media

According to Vox, The Lincoln Project is made up of former Republicans who are avowed “Never Trump” conservatives. The group brought in $16.8 million between April and June of this year, much of which came from donors giving $200 or less. But most of the ads are digital, never reaching television screens.

Trump’s campaign manager is a felon.
His deputy campaign manager is a felon.
His national security advisor is a felon.
His foreign policy advisor is a felon.
His personal lawyer is a felon.
His long time advisor is a felon.

It’s not a campaign, it’s a criminal enterprise. pic.twitter.com/3U2VZNcaiL

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 12, 2020

In May, their ‘Mourning in America’ video went viral. The minute-long video is a critique of Trump’s governance over spiraling Covid-19 deaths and high unemployment

Soon after the video was released, Trump in a series of tweet claimed, “ A group of RINO Republicans who failed badly 12 years ago, then again 8 years ago, and then got BADLY beaten by me, a political first timer, 4 years ago, have copied (no imagination) the concept of an ad from Ronald Reagan, “Morning in America”, doing everything possible to get even for all of their many failures.”

A group of RINO Republicans who failed badly 12 years ago, then again 8 years ago, and then got BADLY beaten by me, a political first timer, 4 years ago, have copied (no imagination) the concept of an ad from Ronald Reagan, “Morning in America”, doing everything possible to….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2020

Lincoln Project creators have all played influential roles in the Republican Party, and include conservatives who have been a part of the “Never Trump” movement.

They claim that they have “sparked a nationwide movement with a singular mission: To defeat Donald Trump and Trumpism”

The Lincoln Project’s latest ad, “Decency” calls out President Trump for his mocking of a disabled reporter.

The ad begins with footage of the first time Democratic nominee Joe Biden met Brayden Harrington, a 13-year-old from New Hampshire who went on to speak at last week’s Democratic National Convention.

However, a few have pointed to the group’s finances, noting that while the group has raised millions of dollars, much of that money has gone to what seem like extremely high ad production costs and to firms run by members of the Lincoln Project’s board.

Vox report states that the Lincoln Project uses a complex subcontractor arrangement to move money to external companies hired to work on ads, since political groups don’t have to disclose their subcontractors.