Overview
In a surprising move ahead of a pivotal presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a video urging his supporters to throw their votes behind Trump. Kennedy’s message framed the election as a critical juncture for free speech and warned that electing Harris could lead the country toward totalitarianism.
Why It Matters The future of free speech and personal freedoms may hinge on this election, potentially shifting power in a way that fundamentally alters Americans’ rights.
Who It Impacts This message impacts voters across the political spectrum who value free speech, particularly those concerned with government overreach and censorship.
Kennedy’s Call to Unite with Trump to Defend Free Speech and Prevent Totalitarianism
On the morning of the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, a surprising announcement came from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging his supporters to cast their votes for Trump. Kennedy’s video message set the stage for what he sees as a critical moment in American democracy, warning that a Harris victory could usher in a totalitarian state where free speech would be severely curtailed.
Kennedy began by addressing a common question from his supporters: whether they should continue voting for him, particularly in swing states. He decisively answered “No,” and instead urged them to back Trump. “No matter what state you live in, you should be voting for Donald Trump,” Kennedy stated, emphasizing that supporting Trump was the only viable way to ensure his ideals and mission could enter Washington, D.C., and create meaningful change.
The crux of Kennedy’s argument rested on what he perceives as an unprecedented attack on free speech, both in the United States and globally. He pointed to increasing censorship by tech companies and governments, citing Brazil’s recent ban on Twitter after Elon Musk refused to censor users. Kennedy warned that the United States could follow suit under Harris’s leadership, referring to comments she made during a CNN interview with Jake Tapper about regulating platforms like Twitter.
Bottom line: No matter what state you live in, VOTE TRUMP. A Trump victory is a Kennedy victory. pic.twitter.com/GBn2p2RLnX
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) September 10, 2024
Harris, in that interview, expressed concerns about the lack of oversight for social media platforms, which she believes hold too much power in directly communicating with the public. Kennedy seized on this, claiming that Harris and the Democratic establishment see free speech as a privilege rather than a right. “If Kamala Harris is elected, the powers behind her will quash that right,” he said, stressing that such measures could permanently undermine free speech in America by 2028.
Kennedy shared that he had personally met with Trump, his team, and his family, and he feels confident that Trump fully grasps the urgency of protecting free speech. He pointed out that Trump himself was removed from Twitter in 2021, a move that Kennedy framed as part of a broader governmental effort to silence political opposition. Kennedy underscored Trump’s commitment to fighting back against what he described as a “censorship machine” and asked his supporters to help Trump secure a second term in the White House.
Acknowledging the potential for a close election, Kennedy stressed the importance of unity to avoid a contested result that could further divide the nation. “President Trump needs to win in a landslide both in the electoral college and in the popular vote. He can’t do that unless my supporters join him,” he warned, calling for a unified effort to ensure Trump’s success.
Kennedy concluded his video by urging Americans to see the larger picture and rise against the “entrenched elites” he believes are destroying the country. He framed the election as a chance to restore the Constitution, revive the middle class, and end censorship, surveillance, and the military-industrial complex. Kennedy’s message was clear: only through a Trump victory could these goals be achieved, and America set back on a course of freedom and prosperity.
While Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump may come as a surprise to some, his message was rooted in a broader concern about the erosion of rights, particularly free speech. For many, this election represents a choice between preserving constitutional freedoms or losing them to an increasingly authoritarian state. It’s a critical moment for voters who believe that the future of American democracy hangs in the balance.
