RFK Jr. wants presidential debate on X
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he wants to have a presidential debate on social platform X, arguing the platform has a far wider audience reach than news networks that are set to host debates in the upcoming months.
“X is where the debate should be,” Kennedy said in a Wednesday post on X. “The new public square with 100x the audience of CNN. @realDonaldTrump, I know you’ve got the guts to do it. Do you want to call @POTUS or should I?”
Kennedy initially asked X owner Elon Musk if the billionaire could host a debate on the social platform. Musk agreed, and Kennedy called for the debate to be hosted on the social media platform.
Both President Biden and former President Trump have agreed to two general election debates, the first slated for June 27 on CNN. The second debate will be hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10.
Kennedy has been left out of both, for now, but that might change if he meets the debate stage threshold: He needs to get 15 percent in four national polls, according to the rules, while also being on the ballot in enough states to hypothetically amass 270 electoral votes.
He said not being included is detrimental to a democracy that welcomes an exchange of political ideas and values free speech.
“They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win. Keeping viable candidates off the debate stage undermines democracy,” Kennedy said in mid-May, shortly after the initial announcements of the debates.
Trump, who has increased his attack against Kennedy in recent weeks, said he has no issue with Kenendy being on the debate stage if the independent candidate meets the threshold.