RFK Laughable on DEBATE STAGE
Former President Trump rips Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over missing qualification deadline for first Presidential Debate Thursday.
The short, on-air reference to the Trump-themed video was in relation to reports that Kennedy lacked support nationally and did not have enough state ballot threshold requirements to make it on CNN’s next debate.
In the video, Trump is heard saying, “I know RFK Jr. wants to hop up on stage Thursday, and I’d frankly love to have him because he’s not much of a debater at all, and you wouldn’t want them in office because of some of his radical left ideas.” “But you have to reach certain numbers. That was the line, and he is just way off of those numbers. He’s not coming close.”
Trump added: “So I hope to see him up there someday, and we’ll see what happens.” He damages Biden, but more importantly — supposedly, they say he hurts Biden more than he hurts me; I don’t know if that’s true. People tell me he is really left, and they say it’s hurting Biden. If he is, whatever — I don’t care.”
To qualify for the CNN-sponsored debate, candidates must be polling at 15% in 4 national polls. They would also need to qualify for many ballots to win the 270 electoral college votes they need.
Kennedy scored as the top 2024 contender in that group who’s not a Democrat or Republican but failed to qualify shortly after 1 a.m. ET Thursday, the network said.
A CNN spokesman, who is not authorized to speak on the record, told Fox News that Kennedy did not fulfill their standards for an independent.
“You can’t go out and get six or seven points.” Trump said in the video Thursday, talking about Pence before adding: “I believe, well, now that will happen and work out.”
In the only poll that CNN acknowledges, the network claims an independent candidate needed 15% in all 3 qualifying national polls. CNBC reported that Kennedy would also fail to have enough states on the ballot for him to earn at least 270 potential Electoral College votes.
In a separate statement Thursday, Kennedy whined, “Presidents Biden and Trump do not want me anywhere near the debate stage, and CNN unlawfully acquiesced to their demands.” McRaven said in a statement, “Being dismissed from the debate by Presidents Biden and Trump is not only un-democratic, it is un-American and cowardly.”
