United States – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump mentioned to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, that there was something he could do for the Trump campaign, as per the video of the phone call made on Sunday and posted on social media, which was also confirmed by Kennedy.
Polarizing Topics and Reactions
“I would love you to do something – and I think it would be so good for you and so big for you,” Trump said on speaker phone in the video that appeared to refer to the upcoming 2024 election campaign, as reported by Reuters.
“We’re gonna win,” Trump said, after which Kennedy said, “Yeah.”
Trump went further, “We’re way ahead of the guy,” referring to Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden.
Kennedy’s backers are liberals, conservatives, and independent voters, and some polls indicate that he could siphon votes from Trump and Biden.
Trump also talked to Kennedy regarding Biden’s phone call to himself following Saturday’s assassination attempt, which left him saying, “It was very nice, actually. ”
The discussion of vaccines during the phone call was also a topic that was in line with some of the things that Kennedy has said in the past. The environmental lawyer has been posting fake news on vaccines for the past few years.
And when you feed a baby, Bobby, a vaccination that is like 38 different vaccines, and it looks like it’s for a horse, not a 10-pound or 20-pound baby,” Trump… and then out of nowhere, you notice the baby beginning to transform beyond imagination.
“And then you hear that it doesn’t have an impact, right? But you and I talked about that a long time ago.”
Subsequently, the call was reposted to social media, and on Tuesday, Kennedy apologized to Trump on the social media platform X, which was previously a Twitter. “When President Trump called me, I was taping with an in-house videographer,” he wrote. “I should have ordered the videographer to stop recording immediately. I am mortified that this was posted.”
A day earlier, Kennedy had published in X about a meeting with Trump, saying, “Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well. No, I am not dropping out of the race.”
Apologies and Political Fallout
The Democratic Party regards Kennedy, who initially participated in the race as a Democrat but later withdrew to be an ‘election spoiler’, who would deny Biden the much-needed votes and aid Trump clinch the presidency.
As M noted on X, Kennedy also dined with right-wing political pundit Tucker Carlson at the Republican National Convention ongoing in Milwaukee this week.
The DNC’s Response
“He (Kennedy) has no path to victory in this race and is nothing more than a spoiler for Trump,” said DNC Communications Adviser Lis Smith, as reported by Reuters.
The Kennedy campaign had not yet had the opportunity to respond to a request for their comment.