Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issues an apology after a private phone call with Donald Trump discussing vaccine claims and endorsements is leaked.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Apologizes for Leaked Trump Call
PHOENIX — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued an apology on Tuesday after a video surfaced showing him on a private phone call with former President Donald Trump. The clip, recorded Sunday, features Trump discussing debunked claims about childhood vaccines and asking Kennedy for an endorsement.
During the call, Trump can be heard urging Kennedy to support his campaign, saying, “I would love you to do so. And I think it’ll be so good for you and so big for you. And we’re going to win.” Kennedy, whose campaign is focused on securing ballot access in all 50 states, said little in the leaked video, which was first posted and later deleted by his son, Robert F. Kennedy III. Despite the video’s unauthorized release, Kennedy’s spokesperson confirmed the candidate will not withdraw from the race.
An Analysis of Rising Political Violence
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is part of a worrying trend of political violence across America. Incidents include attacks on Congressional members, such as Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise who was shot in 2017, and threats to local officials, including a dummy pipe bomb thrown into county clerk candidate Melissa Hartman’s home outside Buffalo, New York.
The broad spectrum of political violence has heightened concerns ahead of the 2024 election. Following the attack on Trump, both Trump and President Joe Biden called for national unity. However, Biden also criticized Trump’s response to past incidents of racial violence and emphasized the need to combat white supremacy.
Public officials, from mayors to health officers, are increasingly targeted, as illustrated by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who survived a shooting in his campaign office in 2022. These violent acts have led some officials to voice concerns and take precautionary measures. For instance, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve discovered a tracking device on her vehicle, further indicating the widespread nature of these threats.
Survey data from the National League of Cities suggests that most threats come via social media, exacerbated by extreme political rhetoric and closed party primaries. The atmosphere has led to significant anxiety among local election officials and public servants, with many expressing fears about the upcoming 2024 election cycle.
