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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former independent presidential candidate, made headlines this week after joining forces with former President Donald Trump.
During an interview on Fox News Channel’s “The Story,” RFK Jr. claimed that the Democratic National Committee’s lawsuit to keep him on the ballot stems from their lack of faith in higher-tier nominees, calling their actions “fundamentally undemocratic.”
Below is a transcript of the exchange:
MacCALLUM: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former independent presidential candidate now a member of the transition team with us. Mr. Kennedy, good to have you with us. You know, I just want to get you reaction, because you were looking at this as well. To the exchange about Netanyahu and how — you heard Karine Jean-Pierre say over and over how very clear President Biden has been about Hamas and that they are the enemy in this situation. What was your reaction to that, do you agree that President Biden has been forceful enough on that issue?”
Kennedy JR.: “Well, I know the position of the Israeli government and the IDF is that the — they have been restrained in some of their responses, particularly recently in Rafah. But I don’t know what’s going on in negotiations in Egypt right now. I don’t know the role that Qatar is playing or the type of pressure that we are putting on Qatar, which has been one of the major funders of Hamas terrorism.”
MacCALLUM: “Yeah. Obviously, we all witnessed what happened over the weekend and the tragic loss of an American citizen. Some people seem to feel that his reaction to that could have been a lot stronger. It was a paper statement for the most part. Let me ask you about this, though, sir. With regards to the election that is now nine weeks away, I believe, you have taken yourself off the ballot since you became a supporter of former President Trump. You are off the ballot in Georgia, which you weren’t on, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, but you’re still on the ballot in Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. It’s possible, when you look at the polls, that you still being on those ballots could have a meaningful impact on the outcome of this election.What do you say about that?”
Kennedy JR.: “I mean, we are trying to get off the ballots in all the states. I’m getting about echo while I’m talking — “
MacCALLUM: “Sorry, we’ll try to get rid of that. Sorry about that.”
Kennedy JR.: “We’re trying to get off the ballot in all the states where I might be a spoiler and cause harm to President Trump. The irony right now is that the DNC which has been trying to keep me off the ballot, is now suing to keep me on the ballot — “
MacCALLUM: “Yes. That is ironic.”
Kennedy JR.: “ — in many of the states that we’re trying to get off of.”
MacCALLUM: “Do you see that as manipulative on their part, in terms of what they want the outcome to be?”
Kennedy JR.: “I can’t hear you because of the echo.”
MacCALLUM: “I’m sorry about that.”
Kennedy JR.: “Can you repeat that?”
MacCALLUM: “Yeah, I’m just — do you think that’s manipulative on the part of these states, to keep you on the ballot?”
Kennedy JR.: “I think the DNC is doing something that is essentially and fundamentally undemocratic. I grew up in a Democratic Party that was the party of Robert Kennedy, of John Kennedy, I was trying to make sure every American had the right to vote for whoever they wanted to vote for. There’s been a million Americans who have signed petitions asking to put me on the ballot. We have complied with every signature requirement, and the Democratic Party doesn’t seem to have the kind of confidence in its nominees to actually go out and amplify their voices. Instead, it’s using law fair to keep opposing candidates like me and Jill Stein and the other candidates off the ballot.”
MacCALLUM: “Sir, I’m going to have to jump in, and I do apologize for the audio problem and for the late start with you. I hope you’ll join us again because there’s a lot I wanted to talk to you about, but I’m up against the end of the hour here, sir. Thank you for your patience today.”
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