Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized Monday that many of his family members support his campaign, despite many of them appearing in photos with President Joe Biden on St. Patrick’s Day.
Appearing on NewsNation’s Cuomo Monday night, Kennedy was asked about the social media posts, including from his sister Kerry Kennedy, who said of Biden, “you make the world better.”
Other notable Kennedys in the snap included Kerry’s daughter Mariah Kennedy-Cuomo, sister Rory Kennedy, former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who serves as Biden’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy.
“Well, first of all, I want to point out, as you know, Chris, even though that looks 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 on the Cape.”
“And a lot of other family members work for my campaign, a lot of other family members support it,” the 2024 hopeful added.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) appeared on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show (left) on Monday night and urged that many of his family members support his independent presidential campaign against President Joe Biden
His sister Kerry Kennedy and other family members posted this group photo of Kennedy family members with 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 would face Biden in the Democratic primaries.
But in October he changed course and decided to run as an independent candidate.
That meant all he had to do was put his name on the ballot for the general election. However, that is quite an achievement because each state has different, and often difficult, rules for accessing ballots.
His siblings condemned his move, fearing he would play a 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,” said a statement written by his siblings Rory, Kerry, Joseph P. Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. “Bobby may have the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Today’s announcement is very saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe that this is dangerous for our country.’
During Monday night’s interview, the candidate excused his family from visiting Biden by pointing out that many family members have worked for the government.
“President Biden is an old friend of my family,” Kennedy offered.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister Kerry said as she shared the family photo with President Joe Biden: ‘you make the world better’
He explained to Cuomo that his views differed with his family members on the war in Ukraine, on COVID and “on the issue of freedom of speech.”
Kennedy made a name for himself as a prominent vaccine skeptic – something that predated the pandemic.
“They look very happy in that photo,” he also said. “And you know, it’s very exciting, it’s intoxicating to be in the White House, and I’m glad I got to do that. I think I played a role in facilitating that visit to the White House and bringing so much happiness to them, so I’m happy about that,” Kennedy said.
The photo-op was largely seen as Biden thumbing his nose at the Kennedy campaign.
Maria Shriver, another member of the Kennedy clan, was invited to appear at a women’s health event 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 about his request for Secret Service protection while they were there.
“So that’s my hope,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy has repeatedly requested Secret Service protection due to the fact that both his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, were assassinated.