Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lashed out at President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for trying to “exclude” him from upcoming presidential debates that were announced Wednesday.
In a post on X, Kennedy railed against “the two most unpopular candidates in living memory” as he warned that keeping him off the debate stage “undermines democracy.”
Trump and Biden agreed to two debates, the first hosted by CNN on June 27 and the September debate hosted by ABC News. CNN named Jake Tapper and Dana Bash as moderators for the first presidential debate which Kennedy may not have even qualified for.
“According to CNN’s rules, a candidate must be on the ballot in enough states to earn a majority of Electoral College votes by June 20,” Politico reported. “Although the Kennedy campaign is making efforts to meet the state-by-state qualifications to get on the ballot, many of the states won’t certify the candidates who have qualified until later in the summer.”
“Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want,” Kennedy wrote on X Wednesday.
“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,” the former Democrat added.
Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want.
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.…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 15, 2024
“Forty-three percent of Americans identify as independents. If Americans are ever going to escape the hammerlock of the two-party system, now is the time to do it. These are the two most unpopular candidates in living memory,” Kennedy continued.
“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,” he concluded.
Kennedy campaign manager Amaryllis Fox said they “anticipate fulfilling all participation criteria” by June 20 in a post on X.
Thrilled that Presidents Biden and Trump have finally agreed to a debate!
We anticipate fulfilling all participation criteria by June 20th and look forward to offering American voters the three-way debate they deserve.#Kennedy24
— Amaryllis Fox (@amaryllisfox) May 15, 2024
RFK Jr. also predicted he would “meet the criteria” to be on the debate stage.
I’m happy to report that I will meet the criteria to participate in the @CNN debate before the June 20 deadline. I look forward to holding Presidents Biden and Trump accountable for their records in Atlanta on June 27 to give Americans the debate they deserve. #KennedyShanahan24
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 15, 2024
CNN advised that debate participants have to “appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency prior to the eligibility deadline.”
The network announced its debate moderators a few hours after reports that Biden and Trump had agreed to debates.
NEW: CNN Anchors @JakeTapper and @DanaBashCNN will moderate CNN’s Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on June 27 from Atlanta, Georgia. The debate will air live at 9pET on @CNN channels, https://t.co/dOLGQHu7eC and on CNN Max. https://t.co/7r5K6OjnSi
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 15, 2024
