Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. insisted Monday that many of his family members support his campaign, even as many of them appeared at a photo op on St. -Patrick with President Joe Biden.
Kennedy appeared on NewsNation’s Cuomo Monday night and was asked about social media posts, including from his sister Kerry Kennedy, who said of Biden, “you make the world a better place.”
Other notable Kennedys include Kerry’s daughter Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo, sister Rory Kennedy, former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who is Biden’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy.
“Well, first of all, I would like to point out, as you know, Chris, even though it seems like a big crowd of people. It’s a very small percentage of my family,” Kennedy told host Chris Cuomo . “Last July 4, I think there were 105 people in Cape Town.”
“And many other members of my family work for my campaign, many other members of my family support my campaign,” the 2024 hopeful added.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) appeared on Chris Cuomo’s (left) NewsNation show Monday night and insisted that many members of his family support his independent presidential campaign against President Joe Biden.
His sister Kerry Kennedy and other family members posted this group photo of the Kennedy family members alongside President Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Kennedy first launched his presidential campaign in April as a Democrat, meaning he is expected to face Biden in the Democratic primary.
But in October, he changed course and decided to run as an independent.
That meant he only needed to get his name on the general election ballot — but that’s a feat because each state has different and often difficult ballot access rules.
His siblings condemned the move, fearing it would play the role of spoiler and open the door to another term for former President Donald Trump.
“Our brother Bobby’s decision to run as a third-party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous for our country,” his siblings Rory, Kerry, Joseph P. Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend said in a statement. “Bobby may have the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, the same vision or the same judgment. Today’s announcement deeply saddens us. We denounce his candidacy and consider it perilous for our country.
During Monday night’s interview, the candidate excused his family for visiting Biden by pointing out that many of his family members had worked for the administration.
“President Biden is an old friend of my family,” Kennedy offered.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister Kerry said while sharing the family photo with President Joe Biden: ‘You make the world a better place’
He told Cuomo that his views differed from those of his family members on the war in Ukraine, on COVID and “on the issue of free speech.”
Kennedy made a name for himself as a prominent vaccine skeptic — something that predated the pandemic.
“They look very happy in this photo,” he also said. “And you know, it’s very exhilarating, it’s exhilarating to be at the White House, and I’m glad I did it, I played a role, I think, in facilitating this visit to the House Blanche and bringing them so much happiness, so I “I’m happy about that,” Kennedy said.
The photo op was widely seen as Biden mocking the Kennedy campaign.
Maria Shriver, another member of the Kennedy clan, was invited to participate in an event on women’s health at the White House on Monday.
She was also the first lady’s guest at the State of the Union address earlier this month.
The 2024 hopeful told Cuomo he hoped his family members would ask him about his request to have Secret Service protection while they were there.
“So that’s my hope,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy repeatedly requested Secret Service protection due to the fact that his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, were assassinated.