Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, made a bold claim on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront” on Monday, stating that President Joe Biden poses a more significant threat to democracy than former President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s argument stems from his experience of being silenced on social media platforms during Biden’s administration, which he perceives as an attempt to “censor political speech” and undermine the First Amendment.
“President Biden is the first president in history to use federal agencies to censor political speech, to censor his opponent,” Kennedy stated. He believes his removal from social media platforms, allegedly due to pressure from the Biden administration, is evidence of this censorship.
In 2021, Kennedy’s Instagram account was suspended for “repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines.” However, it was reinstated shortly after he announced his presidential campaign. Instagram’s parent company, Meta, cited his White House bid as the reason for restoring his account.
Despite Kennedy’s belief that both Biden and Trump are unfit for reelection, he does not subscribe to the rhetoric suggesting either candidate would “destroy democracy.” However, he feels Biden has been “weaponizing the federal agencies” against his opponents, making him a greater threat to democracy.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) responded to Kennedy’s claims, stating that “there is no comparison” between Biden and Trump. DNC senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill criticized Kennedy for pushing conspiracy theories online and dismissed him as a “spoiler candidate.”
During the interview, Kennedy emphasized the importance of not demonizing those who question the integrity of elections. He believes that the focus should be on improving the election system, a sentiment he has expressed in previous presidential elections.
Kennedy, who initially launched his presidential campaign as a Democrat, pivoted to run as an independent in October. Despite never holding office, he has attracted a small group of supporters drawn to his advocacy against public health mandates and the influence of money on government and private corporations.
Despite criticism from his family, Kennedy remains steadfast in his campaign. He acknowledges his family’s political differences but maintains that he feels “loved by them.”
Kennedy has also dismissed concerns about being a spoiler candidate, arguing that neither Biden nor Trump will address his policy priorities, such as the national debt and the reduction of the US defense budget.
“The chance for me to actually change the nature of governance in this country, to restore democracy, to restore our nation’s moral authority abroad… The chances of that happening are too great and too important for me to give up this contest,” he concluded.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.