Environmentalists who once worked with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are urging him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race due to his anti-science beliefs. The push for Kennedy to exit the race comes from his former colleagues at the Natural Resources Defense Council, who plan to run newspaper ads in swing states criticizing his campaign and warning about his conspiracy theories and denial of science. They feel betrayed by Kennedy’s current beliefs and fear that he could benefit GOP nominee Donald Trump, who they see as the worst environmental president the country has ever had.
Kennedy’s campaign has also faced criticism from a number of environmental groups, including the NRDC Action Fund, who reject his claims of being an environmental candidate. They argue that Kennedy is no longer an environmentalist and his agenda would be a disaster for communities and the planet. They accuse him of being a dangerous conspiracy theorist and science denier, citing his false claims about vaccines and the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. They warn that Kennedy’s rejection of science makes him no different than Donald Trump and fear that his candidacy could benefit the former president.
Despite initial thoughts from Trump’s camp that Kennedy’s candidacy could benefit him, both Trump’s campaign and President Joe Biden’s campaign now worry that Kennedy could lose them votes. Polling shows that Kennedy has limited support in key swing states and his chances of winning the presidency are slim. In contrast, more than a dozen members of the Kennedy family, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister, have endorsed Biden’s campaign. The Kennedy family believes that Biden has been a champion for the rights and freedoms that their family has historically stood for.
In response to news of his family’s endorsement of President Biden, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged their support on social media. He expressed that while their political opinions may differ, they are united in their love for each other. Kennedy’s campaign has not yet responded to the calls for him to drop out of the race from former colleagues and environmental groups. However, they continue to campaign on promises to clean up the environment, despite accusations of anti-science beliefs and concerns that his candidacy could ultimately benefit Trump. As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, Kennedy’s controversial views and their potential impact on the election will continue to be a topic of concern and debate within the environmental community.
