Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Challenges Donald Trump To One-On-One Presidential Debate

On Tuesday, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenged presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump to a presidential debate at the upcoming Libertarian convention in Washington, D.C. on May 24-25. Kennedy, who will likely have a significant impact in November after gaining ballot access in various swing states, has accrued some single-digit support nationally and, in some polls, double-digit backing from voters.

Trump has repeatedly called on President Joe Biden to debate him "anytime, anywhere, and anyplace," but Kennedy's challenge could bring about the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle. To justify his challenge, the independent candidate cited a recent poll from Zogby, which found that a Biden v. Kennedy Jr. matchup would result in a resounding RFK Jr. victory (367 electoral votes for RFK to 171 electoral votes for Biden) while a Trump v. Kennedy Jr. matchup would be extremely close (270 electoral votes for RFK and 268 electoral votes for Trump). 

The 70-year-old environmentalist also cited a mid-April CNN and Quinnipiac poll showing his campaign with 16 percent support nationally, one point over the 15 percent threshold required to participate in presidential debates.

"So I'd like to make you an offer. We're both going to be speaking at the upcoming Libertarian convention 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," RFK Jr. wrote 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."

"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 wrote. "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!"

Trump has repeatedly railed against RFK Jr., writing on Truth Social, "RFK Jr. is a Democrat' Plant,' a Radical Left Liberal who's been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden, the Worst President in the History of the United States, get Re-Elected. A Vote for Junior' would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him. Junior' is totally Anti-Gun, an Extreme Environmentalist who makes the Green New Scammers look Conservative, a Big Time Taxer and Open Border Advocate, and Anti-Military/Vet…"

If Trump accepts Kennedy's debate challenge, the first presidential debate could be happening far earlier than anyone anticipated.

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