RFK Jr. steps up Trump attacks as rivals vie for libertarian support

politics

From Diana Glebova

WASHINGTON – Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched some of his sharpest attacks of the campaign against former President Donald Trump on Friday, as both Kennedy and the presumptive Republican nominee seek to gain traction with libertarian voters.

Kennedy, 70, had largely avoided criticizing Trump directly, saving his harshest remarks for President Biden – even as Trump attacked RFK Jr. as a “radical” and “Democratic trash” who wanted to ensure Biden’s re-election on November 5 by taking votes away from the Republican front-runner.

But RFK Jr. showed no scruples in his speech to delegates at the Libertarian Party’s national convention at the Washington Hilton.

“President Trump allowed his health officials to mandate science-free social distancing,” Kennedy said, accusing the 45th president of failing to do anything during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect freedoms of speech, assembly and religion from “the greatest curtailment of civil liberties this country has ever seen.”

Kennedy also criticized Trump for failing to support WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – whom Kennedy called a “hero” – and former NSA employee and anti-surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden during his time in office.

“On my first day in office, I will pardon Edward Snowden and drop the charges, all charges, against Julian Assange,” the Independent said, prompting shouts of “Free Assange!” from the audience.

Trump is scheduled to address delegates on Saturday night, but his speech is expected to be disrupted by protesters demanding that the former president meet for a one-on-one debate with RFK Jr.

Biden and Trump have agreed to two direct debates to be held on June 27 and September 10. Under the terms of the incumbent’s campaign team, no third-party candidates will be allowed to participate.

Trump announced earlier this month that he would debate Kennedy, whom he described as a “sharper” and “smarter” version of Biden.

During his speech, RFK Jr. mocked Trump for the debate, saying he hoped the former president would have the “courage” to speak out on the issues.

Trump’s team launched its own attack on Kennedy at the convention before the Independent took the stage. It drove a mobile billboard around the Hilton displaying attack ads that called Kennedy a “radical” and highlighted his left-leaning policy recommendations.