Donald Trump appeared to try to court independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr in a leaked video of a phone call, where he also talked about the assassination attempt, vaccines and babies.
In footage posted by Kennedy’s son, Bobby Kennedy III, the Republican Party candidate is heard saying over the loudspeaker: “I would love for you to do something, and I think it would be very good and very important for you,” apparently referring to the 2024 election race.
Mr Trump He added, “We’re going to win,” to which Mr. Kennedy replied, “Yes.”
“We’re way ahead of this guy,” Trump continued, referring to the current Democratic president. Joe Biden.
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According to the latest national opinion polls, Trump has 42.4%, Biden has 40.3% and Kennedy is in third place with 9%.
The latter began the race as a Democratic candidate before declaring himself an independent.
Kennedy’s supporters come from across the political spectrum, including liberals, conservatives and independents, and some polls show he would attract voters from both men.
It has been claimed that the call was made on Sunday before the two met on Monday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, amid speculation that Kennedy was planning to drop out of the White House race and possibly endorse Trump.
On Monday’s X, Kennedy, also known by his initials RFK Jr, wrote: “There are many rumors swirling about my meeting this morning with President Trump.
“Our main issue was national unity, and I look forward to meeting with Democratic leaders to discuss that issue as well. No, I’m not dropping out of the race.”
His son, Bobby Kennedy III, posted the video of his father speaking with Trump and wrote on X that the call took place on Sunday, the day after the assassination attempt on former president.
After his son deleted the post, Kennedy made his own post on X, including an apology to the Republican candidate.
He wrote: “When President Trump called me, he was recording with an in-house cameraman. He should have ordered the cameraman to stop recording immediately. I am embarrassed that this was published. I apologize to the president.”
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Trump survived an attempt on his life Saturday during a rally in Pennsylvania, when a gunman armed with a rifle fired from a nearby rooftop, grazing the former president’s ear and killing a man in the crowd.
Kennedy is the son of former Attorney General and former United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former United States President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the 1960s.
After Trump’s shooting over the weekend, Biden ordered the Secret Service to protect Kennedy.
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During the phone call, Trump described the shooting in Pennsylvania and said the bullet that hit his ear “sounded like the biggest mosquito in the world.”
The call also included a conversation about vaccines, which echoed some of Kennedy’s previous views.
The environmental lawyer has been spreading misinformation about vaccines for years.
Trump said: “When you give a baby, Bobby, a vaccine that’s 38 different vaccines, and it looks like it’s intended for a horse, not a 10- or 20-pound baby… and then you see the baby Suddenly it begins to change radically.
“And then you hear that it has no impact, right?
“But you and I talked about that a long time ago.”
The Democratic Party sees Kennedy as an electoral “spoiler” who would take votes away from Biden and help Trump regain the White House.
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