Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has challenged former President Donald Trump to a one-on-one debate.
Both candidates will make an appearance at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C. on May 24 and 25.
“It’s perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters,” Kennedy said in a Tuesday afternoon open letter to Trump posted on X. “You yourself have said you’re not afraid to debate me as long as my poll numbers are decent. Well, they are. In fact, I’m the only presidential candidate in history who has polled ahead of both major party candidates in head-to-head races.”
The independent candidate began his message by thanking Trump for calling attention to “rigged polling methodologies that DNC-biased media have used against you.” Kennedy went on to say this was a concern for his campaign as well and offered to provide the deceptive methodologies from pollsters “who pretend that I’m in single digits.” Dear President Trump,
I’m grateful to you for calling attention to the rigged polling methodologies that biased DNC-influenced media have used against you. We have this concern too, and I’m happy to show you the deceptive methodologies used by DNC-allied pollsters who pretend…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 7, 2024
Kennedy said these concerns led him to use Zogby Analytics, a research partner that offers what the candidate referred to as “the largest and most accurate poll of this election cycle."
In Zogby’s head-to-head matchups between Kennedy, Trump and President Joe Biden, Biden loses to both candidates.
“I crush him as well, by even more,” Kennedy added. “And against each other, I beat you in a nail-biter.”
“In a three-way, you are ahead but I’m coming up strong,” the X post continued. “Two new polls (CNN and Quinnipiac) have me above the 15% debate threshold. Another (Activote) has me at 26% among young voters. And you and I are tied among America’s 70 million Independents.”
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 7, 2024
Kennedy claimed to be pulling away a significant number of Trump’s former supporters.
“They are upset that you blew up the deficit, shut down their businesses during Covid, and filled your administration with swamp creatures,” he added.
“So let’s meet at the Libertarian convention and show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren’t afraid to debate each other,” he concluded. “I asked the convention organizers and they are game for us to use our time there to bring the American people the debate they deserve!”
Late last week, Trump said he would not debate Kennedy.
“Look, RFK is polling very low. He's not a serious candidate," he said
The former president noted some have indicated Kennedy's campaign hurts President Biden's re-election efforts more than Trump's.
"I don't know who he hurts. He might hurt me, I don't know," Trump continued. "But he has very low numbers, certainly not numbers he can debate with. He's gotta get his numbers up a lot higher before he's credible."
The former president reiterated others have suggested Kennedy's campaign posed more of a threat to Biden rather than himself, adding "I don't see him as a factor."
According to a Tuesday press release from Kennedy’s campaign, the candidate is officially on the ballot in Utah, Michigan, and California. He has also gathered enough signatures for ballot access in New Hampshire, Nevada, Hawaii, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, and Iowa.
“I can guarantee you, I will be on the ballot in every state – very, very quickly,” Kennedy told Bill Maher during an April 26 appearance on the comedian’s HBO program.
Christopher Bertman contributed to this report
