Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has argued that President Joe Biden is a more significant threat to democracy than former President Donald Trump. In an interview with CNN Kennedy cited the Biden administration’s alleged efforts to censor political speech and undermine the First Amendment as evidence of this claim.
Kennedy pointed to his own removal from social media platforms which he attributes to pressure from the Biden administration as an example of the president’s attempts to stifle dissent. The candidate’s Instagram account was suspended in 2021 for sharing debunked claims about COVID-19 vaccines but was later reinstated after he announced his presidential bid.
While acknowledging that Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were “appalling” and a threat to democracy Kennedy maintained that Biden’s alleged weaponization of federal agencies against opponents makes him the greater danger. He emphasized the importance of the First Amendment and minimized the risks of questioning the integrity of elections.
The Democratic National Committee responded to Kennedy’s claims stating that there is no comparison between Biden and Trump. Several members of Kennedy’s extended family have also criticized him for challenging Biden with his sister Rory expressing concern that his candidacy may undermine the president’s chances of defeating Trump in November.
Kennedy downplayed his role as a potential spoiler arguing that neither Biden nor Trump will address issues he considers crucial such as the national debt and reducing the U.S. defense budget.
