MSNBC host Ari Melber and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called off their show Wednesday after the presidential candidate was pressed to condemn former President Donald Trump and the events of January 6th. It crashed inside.
Kennedy appeared on “The Beat with Ali Melber” to discuss his stance on current issues involving both Trump and President Joe Biden. Mr. Melber pressed Mr. Kennedy on his stance on Mr. Trump, asking why Mr. Kennedy had become “warmer” toward the potential Republican nominee since supporting then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016. Melber criticized Kennedy for being “proud” of his praise of Trump, but the independent candidate quickly shot back at issues he sees in both the Trump and Biden administrations. . (Related: RFK Jr. poised to tilt presidential campaign, but it’s not yet clear who will have an advantage)
“Both are devastating,” Kennedy said. “Neither can solve that problem. Let me tell you one more thing they can’t do. Neither can end the anger you’re about to pump up.”
“What did I say harshly?” Melber asked.
“What you’re telling me is that I have to take sides and say about one person—” Kennedy began.
“No, I’m asking you, you’re running for president, it’s a big job, and what kind of people are you asking about?” Melber said.
“Let me finish. You said you would give me the floor. After you gave a long, drawn-out speech, Kennedy interjected.
“Yes, I did, but you suggested that I was perpetuating violence, so I’d like you to prove that. Have I said anything harsh today?” Melber asked the question.
Kennedy ended his initial argument by condemning the “amplified” hatred from both sides of the political aisle and saying he would not join in the “madness” of either side.
“But you haven’t addressed, and you probably won’t answer, the issues I’ve raised. It’s about what we heard from former President Trump and what he did in racism and misogyny and 1 They are refusing to leave peacefully until the 6th of May. All night long, they praised the convicted agitators,” Melber said.
“What I played for you, people don’t seem to understand what you seem to be saying. It’s kind of an even-handed thing,” he continued. “Do you think anything different about that and that threat in this election, or not? If not, that’s fine. But that’s what people are asking for. ”
“what is this [I mean] When we say we are feeding our vitriol. You’re trying to make me hate President Trump,” Kennedy responded.
Mr. Melber asked Mr. Kennedy about Mr. Trump’s comment on January 6 that he wanted to free prisoners serving time, and whether he intended to criticize that comment again. President Kennedy went on to condemn the actions of January 6th, calling them “a terrible time in our history,” but not “inciting or amplifying hatred among people.” “I don’t have a movement based on doing something.” each other. “
“Sure, but you blame it and Donald Trump, but it would be wrong for him to forgive them, right? You condemn it? It would be wrong for him to forgive them. ?” asked Melber.
“Ali, you say, ‘Sure,’ but what you do every night when you sit in this chair, and what you do, it’s your job to instigate it. And my job is to de-escalate,” Kennedy said.
“I don’t feel inflamed at all,” Melber pushed back.
“I know you’re not, but that’s what you’re doing,” Kennedy responded.
The two had a back-and-forth discussion, but Kennedy said individual cases needed to be considered before pardoning people, specifically referring to the January 6 prisoners.
After announcing his candidacy last year, Kennedy previously ran as a Democratic candidate, but switched to running as an independent in October last year. A poll conducted in late April showed that the Harris Poll and Harris found Kennedy’s favorability rating among the 1,961 registered voters is an estimated 44%, with 35% of voters having an unfavorable view of him.
