President Donald Trump has called for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be included in the upcoming 2024 presidential debates.
Trump says he has “no problem” with inviting RFK Jr. to share the debate stage with him and Democrat President Joe Biden.
He argues that, if RFK Jr. meets the qualification threshold, then he should be included.
Trump indicated that while RFK Jr. has seen a dip in popularity lately, the third-party candidate should still be allowed in the debate stage.
However, Trump notes that RFK Jr. must earn his spot on the stage.
In a statement, Trump called on Kennedy to improve his polling numbers to make sure he meets the criteria.
“I have no problem with him. I think he’s really not doing well in the polls at all,” Trump said.
“His numbers have gone down a lot lately, but I would have no problem if he got whatever the threshold is, but he’s very low and seems to be heading in the other direction, in the wrong direction.”
RFK Jr.’s name came up after Biden and Trump agreed to debate each other and a date was quickly scheduled for June 27.
Kennedy responded by suggesting that the two major-party candidates might be “colluding” to keep him off the debate stage.
“Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want,” RFK said.
“They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win.
“Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy.
“By excluding me from the stage, Presidents Biden and Trump seek to avoid discussion of their eight years of mutual failure including deficits, wars, lockdowns, chronic disease, and inflation.”
That debate will be hosted by CNN.
If Biden isn’t removed as the Democrat nominee after that debate, then another would be hosted by ABC on September 10, 2024.
Kennedy is trying to get on the ballot in all 50 states as an independent candidate, despite his longstanding affiliation with the Democratic Party.
Even members of RFK Jr.’s own family didn’t seem to want him operating in the same space as Biden.
As a result, RFK Jr. decided to launch an independent bid instead of seeking the backing of his party.
Progress has been relatively slow for RFK Jr., as he’s still fighting to make it on the ballot in many states.
Per the Washington Times:
His campaign has said it is officially on the ballot in California, Delaware, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah and has collected enough signatures in Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Ohio.
While RFK Jr. is leading independents in the polls, it probably isn’t going to be enough to get his support up to the 15% threshold.
Cornel West and Jill Stein are currently polling with worse numbers than RFK Jr.
