RFK Jr. comparing Trump to Hitler before he was promised a place in the cabinet
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.., a close ally of Donald Trump and the president-elect’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, has called Trump a “bully,” a “threat to democracy” and a “carnival barker,” according to New recording released. discovered by CNN. Kennedy also appeared to compare Trump to Adolf Hitler and described his supporters as “complete Nazis” and “warlike idiots.”
Of course, Kennedy also supported Trump in his re-election bid. But as recently as last month, CNN reported, the third-party long-shot presidential candidate called Trump a “terrible president.” That quick expression probably has something to do with Trump report promise that the conspiracy theorist would receive a prominent public health position in exchange for his endorsement.
Before that sudden change in opinion, however, Kennedy had consistently and harshly criticized Trump on his radio show, “The Ring of Fire,” and in other venues. “President Trump has not only brought this country into disrepute globally, he has discredited the entire American experience of self-government,” Kennedy said at an event in 2018 in Philadelphia. In April 2024, Kennedy speak that Trump posed a “threat to democracy” and had done many “horrific” things during his time as president.
In a 2016 episode of “The Ring of Fire,” the long-running radio talk show that Kennedy once co-hosted, CNN reported, he compared Trump to historical demagogues who profited used public fear to gain power, including Hitler, Francisco Franco, and Benito. Mussolini: “Every statement that Donald Trump makes is based on fear,” Kennedy said. “Every statement he makes.”
In another episode that year, Kennedy quoted at length from a journalist’s article Matt Taibbiwhich describes Trump’s efforts to “build a truly evil nationalist movement” comprised of “warlike idiots…opportunists and weak fellow travelers.” “He’s not like Hitler. You know, Hitler had a plan, Hitler cared about policy,” Kennedy said of Trump. “I don’t think Trump has any of that.”
Kennedy now denies that assessment, as do many of Trump’s former critics and devotees before him. Mitch McConnell once called The president-elect is “a despicable human being” who is “unfit” for office. (McConnell continues to endorse him.) J.D. Vance one comparison Trump to Hitler; he will now serve as Trump’s vice president. In a statement to CNN, Kennedy explained that he had previously been influenced by “the mainstream media’s distorted, outdated portrait of President Trump.” “I no longer hold this belief,” he added, “and now regret making those statements.”
