Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate for president, has made bold assertions regarding President Joe Biden, deeming him a more significant threat to democracy than former President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s critique centers on Biden’s actions concerning social media censorship, specifically accusing the current administration of pressuring platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Google to censor political adversaries.
Kennedy’s remarks, made during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” highlight his concerns over the potential for abuse of power when a president has the ability to silence opposition. He argues that such capacity lays the groundwork for undermining democratic principles.
The issue of social media censorship, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has sparked legal battles, with the Supreme Court recently hearing a case challenging the Biden administration’s directives for content moderation on social platforms. Kennedy himself was cited in a White House-endorsed report as one of the “disinformation dozen” for allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, a claim that has fueled his criticisms.
His comments during a CNN interview, stating that Biden could be considered worse than Trump in terms of democratic integrity, drew sharp criticism from Democrats. The Democratic National Committee, among others, rebuked Kennedy’s comparisons, emphasizing the gravity of Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot as unequivocally more detrimental to democracy.
Kennedy’s candidacy has been a topic of contention, with concerns from both major political parties about his potential to draw votes away from their candidates in the upcoming election. Trump has labeled Kennedy more “radical Left” than Biden, while Biden has highlighted his endorsements from other members of the Kennedy family.
Polling data shows a competitive three-way race, with Kennedy needing to surpass a 15% threshold in select polls to participate in the presidential debates. His campaign, along with his choice of Nicole Shanahan as a running mate, underscores the evolving dynamics of the 2024 election and the varied perspectives on what constitutes a threat to American democracy.