This is an adapted excerpt from the Aug. 25 episode of “Inside with Jen Psaki.”
Shunned by Democrats and estranged from his family, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long been desperate for validation. So desperate, in fact, that he has now joined forces with Donald Trump.
Of course, as the most prolific anti-vax conspiracy theorist in the country, Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump was a long time coming. Frankly, the two have a lot in common: Both have enormous egos that cloud their judgment, both rely on misinformation to prey on people’s fears, and both leverage their last name for their own self-interest.
Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump was a long time coming.
But for Kennedy, this endorsement also marks another act of rebellion against his family and the institutions they helped build. Although he shares the same name as his father, he could not be more different.
His dad — the original Robert Kennedy — was driven by a genuine concern for the health and welfare of the American people. He was a champion of the underprivileged and the vulnerable. He appealed to people’s better angels, not their worst instincts.
When it came to modern medicine, he said those with power and influence have a duty to aid the less fortunate. As Kennedy told a group of doctors in Indiana in 1968, “We have to recognize those of us who have the advantages that you have and that I have that we have an obligation of responsibility to those who do not.”
In other words, Kennedy believed that it was not enough to merely “do no harm” — he felt strongly that people in a position to help others have an obligation to do so.
Needless to say, the apple has fallen pretty far from the tree. Kennedy has not only failed in his “obligation of responsibility,” he’s actually done the opposite. He’s used his privilege and his name to encourage the most vulnerable Americans to turn their backs on modern medicine. He’s used falsehoods to stoke widespread fear of even routine vaccines, including the vaccines that eradicated measles, mumps and polio. If Trump and Kennedy have their way, parents will once again have to worry that their kids could be susceptible to life-threatening diseases at school.
By endorsing Trump, Kennedy is simply confirming what we suspected all along: that his goal is to be a spoiler for the Democratic ticket. But here’s the thing: Kennedy is not only insulting his father’s legacy, he’s also trying to sabotage the party that his family has shaped and influenced for more than six decades. Remember, his endorsement comes just days after new reporting showed his candidacy was now costing Trump more votes than Vice President Kamala Harris. We also can’t forget that Kennedy’s political ambitions were, in part, financed by one of Trump’s biggest billionaire donors. By endorsing Trump, Kennedy is simply confirming what we suspected all along: that his goal is to be a spoiler for the Democratic ticket. And while we still don’t know what the real impact of this endorsement will be, we do know that the headlines shouldn’t read: “Kennedy endorses Trump.” They should read: “Dangerous conspiracy theorists join forces.” Join Jen Psaki, Rachel Maddow and many others on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Brooklyn, New York, for “MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024,” a first-of-its-kind live event. You’ll get to see your favorite hosts in person and hear thought-provoking conversations about what matters most in the final weeks of an unprecedented election cycle. Buy tickets here.
Jen Psaki is the host of "The Briefing with Jen Psaki" airing Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 p.m. EST. She is the former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden.
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW.
Will Rabbe
Will Rabbe is a senior producer for "Inside with Jen Psaki."
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