Environmentalists who previously worked with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are urging him to end his presidential campaign due to his anti-science beliefs. Colleagues from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are planning to release ads in six swing states urging Kennedy to drop out, stating that his campaign would benefit Donald Trump, who they believe is the worst environmental president in U.S. history. They accuse Kennedy of spreading anti-vaccination conspiracy theories and denying science, putting lives at risk. Some former colleagues feel betrayed by his current beliefs and worry that he is opening the door to another Trump administration.
Kennedy has also faced criticism from environmental groups who reject his claims of being an environmental candidate. They argue that Kennedy is not an environmentalist and claim that his agenda would be disastrous for both communities and the planet. These groups point to Kennedy’s past anti-science statements, including false claims about vaccines causing autism and downplaying the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. They assert that Kennedy’s rejection of science puts him in the same category as Donald Trump and warn about the potential consequences of his candidacy.
The NRDC Action Fund president and CEO, Manish Bapna, stated that Kennedy is playing a dangerous spoiler role that could potentially benefit Trump. He emphasized that President Biden is the true environmental candidate due to his efforts and policies around climate change. Bapna believes that Kennedy, who has no viable path to the White House according to polling data, should drop out of the race if he is serious about protecting the planet. Both Trump’s and Biden’s camps initially thought that Kennedy’s candidacy could benefit the former president, but they now worry about losing votes to him.
Kennedy’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the criticism and calls for him to drop out. His candidacy appears to be a long shot based on polling data, with an average of 11% support in seven key states for the 2024 election. On the other hand, more than a dozen members of the Kennedy family, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister Kerry Kennedy, have endorsed Joe Biden for president. Kerry Kennedy praised Biden for championing the rights and freedoms her father and uncle stood for, stating that nearly every grandchild of Joe and Rose Kennedy supports Biden.
In response to news of his family’s support for Biden, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged their endorsements on social media. He emphasized that political activism is a family tradition despite differing opinions, and expressed love and unity within the family despite political divisions. The push for Kennedy to drop out of the presidential race continues as environmentalists and advocacy groups express concerns about his anti-science beliefs and the potential impact of his candidacy on the upcoming election.
