Former President Donald Trump is celebrating and criticizing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid, saying the “Radical Left Democrat” will help him win the general election.
Mr. Trump trained his focus on Mr. Kennedy hours after the independent candidate tapped Silicon Valley attorney and entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan as his running mate on Tuesday.
“RFK Jr. is the most Radical Left Candidate in the race, by far,” Mr. Trump posted Tuesday night on Truth Social. “I guess this would mean he is going to be taking votes from Crooked Joe Biden, which would be a great service to America.”
“His running mate, Nicole Shanahan, is even more ‘Liberal’ than him, if that’s possible,” he posted.
Mr. Trump said Mr. Kennedy will struggle to get on the ballot in states because of the pushback he will face from Democrats, who are concerned he could hurt President Biden’s reelection effort by pulling away disillusioned Democrats.
“He is Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, not mine,” Mr. Trump posted. “I love that he is running!”
SEE ALSO: RFK Jr. taps Nicole Shanahan for his ‘spoiler’ ticket
For his part, Mr. Kennedy is embracing being the “spoiler” in the race, telling voters that both major parties are trying to instill fear in the electorate that a vote for him will lift up their biggest political rival.
“Our campaign is a spoiler, I agree with that,” Mr. Kennedy said Tuesday. “It is a spoiler for President Biden and for President Trump.”
“It is a spoiler for the war machine,” he said. “It is a spoiler for Wall Street and Big Ag and Big Tech and Big Telecom and Big Pharma and the corporate-owned media and all the corrupt politicians and corporations.”
“That is why they are trying to keep me off the ballot and to frighten you into choosing between the two tired and unpopular heads of the uni party,” he said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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