Trump Makes Persuasive Call to Independent Kennedy Jr. for Support

Kennedy Candidate's Eldest Son Leaks on SNS
Vaccine Conspiracy Theories and Biden Call After Attack

Donald Trump, the former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate, was seen seemingly urging Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent, to withdraw from the race.

On the 16th (local time), according to the New York Times (NYT) and others, Kennedy Jr.'s eldest son, Bobby Kennedy III, posted and then deleted a video on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing a phone call between former President Trump and Kennedy Jr. Bobby Kennedy III said the call took place the day after Trump was shot at a campaign event.

Video of a phone call between candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. and former President Donald Trump posted on SNS [Photo by X capture]

In the video, former President Trump said, "Giving 38 vaccines to infants seems like it's not for a 10-pound (about 4.5 kg) or 20-pound baby, but more like for a horse," adding, "I have seen too many times babies suddenly change after vaccination." He continued, "Yet people say vaccines have no effect, but you and I talked about this a long time ago." Kennedy Jr. has a history of opposing vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Afterward, Trump shifted the topic and appeared to request Kennedy Jr.'s support. He said, "I would really like it if you did something," emphasizing, "I think this would be very good and a very big deal for you. And we will win." Kennedy Jr. responded with "Yeah."

Former President Trump also shared details of a call with President Biden following the shooting incident at a campaign event in Pennsylvania last week. He said the call with Biden was "very good," and "he (President Biden) called me and asked how I planned to move to the right." Regarding the injury to his ear from the shooting, Trump described it as feeling "like the biggest mosquito in the world."

Bobby Kennedy III wrote on X, "I firmly believe this kind of conversation should be public," adding, "Here, Trump is telling my father his true thoughts on childhood vaccinations." Kennedy Jr. apologized shortly after the video was released, saying, "When former President Trump called, we were filming with the campaign videographer," and "I should have ordered the filming to stop. I am embarrassed that the video was posted."

The day before the video was made public, media reports surfaced that former President Trump and Kennedy Jr. had met ahead of the Republican National Convention. At the time, there was speculation that Kennedy Jr. would withdraw and endorse Trump, but Kennedy Jr. dismissed this and expressed his intention to continue his campaign.