Former President Donald Trump has accused President Joe Biden of excluding independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the upcoming presidential debates, despite some shared policy beliefs between Biden and Kennedy. This accusation comes amid Kennedy’s sharp criticism of both Biden and Trump for allegedly colluding to keep him off the debate stage. Kennedy labeled them “giant cowards” for their actions, prompting Trump to respond that Kennedy “needs more than his name to get on the ‘stage.’”
Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to voice his accusations against Biden, pointing out that Kennedy’s polling numbers are currently very low. Trump suggested that Kennedy is on a downward trajectory and questioned his viability as a candidate.
In an interview with Scripps News later that day, Trump stated that he would have “no problem” with Kennedy participating in the debate if he meets the necessary criteria. “But he’s very low and seems to be heading in the other direction, in the wrong direction,” Trump added.
On Wednesday, Trump accepted a challenge from Biden to participate in two head-to-head presidential debates. The first debate is scheduled to be conducted by CNN on June 27, with the second debate to be hosted by ABC on September 10.
CNN has set specific standards for candidates wishing to participate in these debates. Candidates must appear on enough ballots to hypothetically secure the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency. Additionally, they must achieve at least 15 percent support in four different national surveys of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s criteria.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., meanwhile, has been vocal about his exclusion from the debates. He announced on Wednesday that his campaign has gathered enough signatures to be eligible for the ballot in 14 states, including Texas. Kennedy criticized the decision to exclude him, arguing that both Trump and Biden are colluding to limit voters’ choices. “Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want,” Kennedy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Kennedy accused Biden and Trump of being afraid of his potential success in the debates, claiming that excluding viable candidates undermines democracy. He expressed confidence that he would meet the criteria to participate in the CNN debate by the June 20 deadline and looked forward to holding Biden and Trump accountable for their records.
Kennedy, a 70-year-old anti-vaccine advocate and environmentalist, is running as an independent after initially challenging Biden for the Democratic nomination. Despite trailing in overall polls, Kennedy has the potential to attract votes from both Trump and Biden. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey, Kennedy is supported by 8 percent of registered voters, down seven percentage points from March.
Kennedy chose lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. He is the son of the late US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 while running for president. Kennedy’s campaign has faced criticism from his own family, who have publicly supported Biden.
