Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, believes that President Joe Biden poses a greater threat to democracy than Donald Trump. In an interview on CNN, Kennedy accused Biden of using federal agencies to censor political speech, citing a case before the Supreme Court involving the removal of content from social media platforms. Kennedy claimed that Biden was the first president in history to censor political speech and referenced a legal case he won in the federal court of appeals. Despite not directly responding to questions about the case, Kennedy argued that Biden’s actions were detrimental to democracy.
Kennedy, who is known for his stance against vaccines, has faced backlash for spreading misinformation on social media platforms. The Children’s Health Defense group, led by Kennedy, was banned from Instagram and Facebook in 2022 for spreading false information about vaccines and Covid. The Democratic National Committee criticized Kennedy for his claims, stating that there is no comparison between Biden’s actions and Trump’s incitement of violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Kennedy’s comments have raised concerns among Biden allies that his candidacy could draw votes away from the president and help Trump return to the White House.
Biden has made preserving democracy a focal point of his re-election campaign, contrasting his efforts to protect democratic institutions with Trump’s actions. Biden’s campaign deferred to the DNC for comment on Kennedy’s claims. Kennedy’s family members have publicly supported Biden and criticized RFK Jr., with whom they have ideological differences. Kennedy has a history of alleging that elections were “stolen,” similar to Trump’s repeated false claims about the 2020 election. During the CNN interview, Kennedy falsely claimed that the 2000 and 2004 elections were also “stolen,” echoing Trump’s rhetoric.
The Supreme Court case referenced by Kennedy involves government intervention in social media content removal, with a majority of justices expressing skepticism about Biden administration actions. Kennedy’s assertion that Biden is censoring political speech through federal agencies is a key point in his criticism of the president. The Biden campaign has emphasized the importance of democracy in the face of threats posed to the country, with Biden warning of the dangers posed by Trump. Kennedy’s controversial comments have sparked debate about the impact of his candidacy on the upcoming election and the potential consequences of his anti-vaccine activism on public health.
