Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has escalated his critique of Donald Trump, accusing the Republican nominee of showing favoritism to swamp creatures and prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over American workers.
Kennedy, an environmental activist and vaccine skeptic, running as an independent presidential candidate, missed securing the Democratic Party nomination. Recently, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to air his grievances.
Surveys by Emerson College show that Kennedy commands backing from six percent of U.S. registered voters, placing him a distant third behind Trump and President Joe Biden.
In his social media posts, Kennedy portrayed Trump as aligned with the Republican establishment and corporate interests, criticizing him for betraying his anti-establishment image.
The 70-year-old attorney was detained on May 27, days after claiming Trump’s policies favored the wealthy elites, neglecting his promise to boost manufacturing and wages while aiding small farms.
Among his accusations, Kennedy blamed Trump for worsening tensions between Ukraine and Russia, mishandling the 2020 George Floyd protests, and neglecting the opioid epidemic. He heavily criticized Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing him of imposing unproductive lockdowns and facilitating wealth transfer to billionaires.
Kennedy cited an article by Australian writer Caitlin Johnston, highlighting Trump’s similarities to past presidents rather than his differences, emphasizing his intention to chart a different course.
In another post, Kennedy pointed out Trump’s appointments of corporate figures and establishment elites in key administration roles, labeling them as swamp creatures who self-regulated their industries.
Trump is a swamp creature lover, despite his rhetoric. He loves corporate monopolies and their lobbyists. He promised to drain the swamp but instead hired swamp creatures who regulated their own industries. Operation Warp Speed… https://t.co/0tZ0e1C7Eg
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 12, 2024
On a different note, Kennedy has occasionally defended Trump, including during a TV appearance where he predicted Trump’s orderly transition if defeated in the 2020 election.
Despite mixed reactions to his stances, Kennedy’s approval rating has seen fluctuations, dropping from a high of +15.5 percent in June 2023 to -6.6 percent by June 6, 2024.