Trump suggests Biden doesn't want RFK Jr. on debate stage, says they'd debate over 'same territory'

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that President Joe Biden would suffer from the participation of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the presidential debates, saying they pair would vie for left-wing voters and address similar issues.

"Crooked Joe Biden does not want RFK Jr. in the debates because Junior’ is far left him and they would be debating over the same territory, like ridiculous Open Borders and the Green New Scam, both of which are killing our Country," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"He’s also sharper and far more intelligent than Joe, all making for a bad combination of ingredients," he went on. "I don’t care if Junio[r]’ joins the Debate, but right now his polling numbers are very low, he is not properly qualified in the States, and he seems to be on a downward path. Junior’ needs more than his name to get on the 'stage!'"

Trump and Biden agreed to debate yesterday through an exchange on social media and will face off in a CNN debate on June 27. Kennedy, for his part, suggested that the pair were trying to keep him off the stage.

"Presidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up that 70% say they do not want. 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," he said on X. "By excluding me from the stage, Presidents Biden and Trump seek to avoid discussion of their eight years of mutual failure including deficits, wars, lockdowns, chronic disease, and inflation."

Kennedy currently polls at 10.8% support in the RealClearPolitics polling average, which also includes independent Cornel West and Jill Stein.

"I'll tell you the thing today with Biden issuing the debate challenge, he didn't include RFK Jr, which tells you everything you need to know," Trump pollster John McLaughlin said Wednesday on the "Just the News, No Noise" television show. "If he thought Kennedy was hurting Trump, he'd have him in those debates. He doesn't want him in the debate."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.