On Thursday afternoon, former president Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., went after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s independent campaign at Trump’s Iowa campaign headquarters.

When asked about Kennedy Jr.’s independent campaign, Trump Jr. told a crowd of 40 Iowan volunteers, “It legitimately always felt like it was a Democrat plant to hurt the Trump thing… He wouldn’t be there if the Democrats didn’t want him.”

Kennedy Jr.’s campaign was largely dismissed by Democrats when he announced he would run in the Democratic primaries, despite the support he received from conservative figures and right-side media outlets.

Unable to gain traction, Kennedy Jr. eventually shifted gears and launched an independent campaign instead. As a result, the Trump campaign and its allies continue to highlight some of Kennedy Jr.’s left-leaning policy positions.

On October 9, in Philadelphia, Kennedy Jr. marked the second phase of his campaign.

“I intend to wrest the reins of power from both parties and to give it to the American people,” he declared.

His independent campaign has sparked debate about whether Kennedy Jr.’s candidacy is more likely to harm President Joe Biden or Trump. It will depend on whoever secures their party’s nomination.

Trump Jr. said, “He should be much more of a threat to Joe Biden than to us.”

However, he cautioned MAGA supporters against Kennedy Jr.’s well-known skepticism towards vaccines. 

“Once you actually look at his voting record, you’re like, no, he’s just a liberal that is anti-vax,” he added. “Being anti-vax, I don’t think that’s enough.” 

Trump Jr. remarked that the Trump campaign would need to make an effort to clarify Kennedy’s positions to voters.

After his speech, Trump Jr. spoke to the media in response to the news of his father’s $10,000 fine for violating a gag order. This order prohibited him from discussing the judge’s staff in his New York fraud trial. 

He also discussed Trump’s lead in Iowa and started to describe it as “insurmountable” before he cut himself off midway through the word.

When asked by reporters about the potential impact of an endorsement by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) for another candidate on Trump’s chances in the state, Trump Jr. said the campaign is “What’s the word? Crushing it.”

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