- Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy sat down for an interview with conservative activist Charlie Kirk
- He froze for seven seconds when Kirk asked the 2024 hopeful to name a “current or recent” Supreme Court justice who aligns with his views
- Kennedy also declined to say whether liberal Justice Elena Kagan or conservative Justice Clarence Thomas was more in line with his values
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy seemed baffled when conservative activist Charlie Kirk asked him who he would choose to serve on the Supreme Court.
In a video obtained by DailyMail.com, Kennedy pauses for several seconds after being asked by Kirk to name a “current or recent” Supreme Court justice who aligns with his views.
After seven awkward seconds, Kennedy replied, “I couldn't answer that.”
“I would say I'm going to appoint judges who reflect my values,” Kennedy said at the time.
Kirk then asked the 2024 hopefuls to articulate those values — asking Kennedy if he would appoint justices who were more like liberal Justice Elena Kagan or conservative Justice Clarence Thomas.
“I don't know, I wouldn't answer that,” Kennedy replied.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk (left) spoke with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) for an episode of his Charlie Kirk Show. Kennedy was silent for seven seconds after Kirk asked him what kind of justices he would appoint to the Supreme Court
Kirk then told Kennedy, “But respectfully, you are running for president.”
“That's a big issue for voters, especially when it comes to Second Amendment rights, abortion,” Kirk continued.
Instead, Kennedy listed his “important issues.”
“Free market capitalism, strong environmental protections, strong freedoms, human rights, civil rights, bodily autonomy and skepticism of big business and corporations' control of our country and hostility to corruption,” the Democrats-turned-independent said.
Kirk continued to press, asking Kennedy to name his favorite Supreme Court justice ever.
“Earl Warren,” Kennedy finally replied.
Kirk pointed out that it was the Warren court that decided that official prayer could not take place in public schools.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to answer whether he would choose justices more aligned with liberal Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan (left) or conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (right)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. first launched a presidential bid in April, announcing he would face President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary, before switching to an independent run in October — meaning he'll put his name on every state's 2024 primary will have to mention. general election ballot
“This is why I don't want to pick a particular justice,” Kennedy said. “I'll tell you what I would look for in justice, but I'm not going to support every decision. So I see the trick here: I appoint a judge and you're going to make a decision that I don't support.'
Kirk pushed back, saying he wasn't trying to “mislead” Kennedy.
“It's not a trick, you're running for president and you know I respect you,” the Turning Point USA founder said.
Kirk asked Kennedy if he would consider nominating a Supreme Court justice if he or she supported affirmative action.
Kennedy said that position would not disqualify the judge.
“I would look at the whole package,” the 2024 hopeful said.
Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaxxer, originally launched a presidential bid from Boston in April as a Democrat, but announced in October that he would instead run as an independent — another uphill climb as he will need to gain access to the 2024 general elections in each state. mood.
A member of the prominent Kennedy clan in Democratic politics, he is the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy.
With his positions on vaccinations and increasingly conservative views on immigration, Kennedy has managed to draw voters away from both traditional parties. polls around 13 percent when other independent candidates – Jill Stein and Cornell West – are included.