Trump launches tirade of fresh abuse against ‘lunatic’ Kennedy
Donald Trump is known for levelling constant and often personal attacks on rivals such as Joe Biden. Lately, he’s increasingly taking that same approach against independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Among the recent jabs, Trump last week posted a four-minute video online in which he called Kennedy “fake,” a “Democrat plant” and a “radical left liberal who’s been put in place” to help Joe Biden. Trump also railed against Kennedy’s family as “a bunch of lunatics”.
“He is not a Republican, so don’t think you’re going to vote for him and feel good,” Trump told supporters on his Truth Social post.
Directing attacks at Kennedy may signal concern from Trump and his campaign about the independent’s bid in what’s expected to be a tight November election, when a third-party hopeful siphoning even a small amount of support could sink one of the major candidates.
Six months out from an election day in which many Americans have voiced their dissatisfaction at Biden Trump rematch, Kennedy has been offering himself as an alternative. Some of the issues he focuses on — support for Israel and criticism over Covid lockdowns — could appeal more to conservative voters than Democrats.
Polls at this point show far more Republicans than Democrats have a favourable opinion of Kennedy, though many Americans don’t know who he is. A poll in February found 53pc of Republicans had a favourable view of him, compared with 30pc of Democrats. About one-quarter in each case said they didn’t know enough about Kennedy to say.
Kennedy’s campaign argues that he threatens both Trump and Biden, who boasts support from several members of Kennedy’s own family and called the endorsements “an incredible honour”.
Biden has largely ignored Kennedy, who had challenged him for the Democratic nomination before he launched his independent bid.
Kennedy has gone after Trump as well, challenging him to a debate when both men speak — on separate days — at the Libertarian Party convention later this month. Kennedy claims Trump’s backers are “wavering” in their support.
Meanwhile, former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is under active consideration by Donald Trump’s campaign to be his running mate, news site Axios reported yesterday.
Trump could pick Haley if he were convinced she could help him win the presidency, avoid a potential prison sentence and cover tens of millions in legal bills if he loses, the report said. Haley, the former South Carolina governor and a former US ambassador to the UN, ended her long-shot challenge to Trump in March.
Responding to the article, Trump campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes said: “Only Donald Trump will rule a contender for vice president in or out, and anyone claiming to know who he will choose is lying.”
While Haley has acknowledged that Trump, who repeatedly belittled her candidacy, would be the Republican nominee, she has not endorsed him.
There was already a long list of potential candidates for the VP running slot that includes South Dakota governor Kristi Noem among others.
Noem has been embroiled in controversy after revealing in a memoir that she once shot a 14-month-old dog for being disobedient.