RFK Jr. Apologizes for Leaked Trump Call

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, issued an apology on Tuesday morning following the leak of a phone call he had with former President Donald Trump. The call surfaced after Trump was involved in a weekend assassination attempt. Kennedy expressed regret over the situation, stating, “I was recording with an in-house videographer and should have instructed them to stop filming immediately when Trump called. I am deeply embarrassed that this recording was made public and offer my sincere apologies to the president.”

In the leaked video, which has been widely shared on social media, Trump is heard recounting the details of the attack he survived, describing it as, “something wrapped me… like the world’s largest mosquito.” During the call, Trump also touched on topics related to anti-vaccine beliefs, as Kennedy is known for his stance against vaccines. Trump shared his positive impressions of his conversation with President Joe Biden after the incident and expressed confidence in his future success, saying, “We’re going to win.”

The leak of the call was initially attributed to Kennedy’s son, Bobby Kennedy III, who shared the footage with a message suggesting that such conversations should be public. However, he later removed the post, stating, “Removed last one for mistaking sarcasm for real life.”

Kennedy’s campaign has been approached for comments regarding the leak, but there has been no response so far. The key point of interest is whether Kennedy will pursue any collaboration with Trump moving forward. During the leaked call, Trump expressed interest in Kennedy’s involvement, stating, “I would love you to do stuff. And I think it would be so good for you and so big for you.” Politico reported on Monday that Trump had previously met with Kennedy to seek his endorsement. A Kennedy spokesperson confirmed to The New York Times that while Kennedy and Trump met to discuss “national unity,” Kennedy is not considering withdrawing from the presidential race.

The phone call took place in the aftermath of a serious incident where Trump was shot at from a rooftop during a campaign rally. The attack, which occurred over the weekend, left a supporter dead and two other rally-goers critically injured. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by Secret Service agents. The shooting has intensified scrutiny of the Secret Service, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas labeling the incident a “failure” and noting that the agency has been “historically stretched in resources.”

Kennedy’s role in the upcoming election has become a concern for both major political parties, though his impact remains uncertain. According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll averages from late May to June, Trump led with 42.8% support in a three-way race, Biden followed with 39%, and Kennedy garnered 13%. A more recent FiveThirtyEight poll shows Kennedy with 9% support. Despite this, Kennedy remains a longshot candidate, struggling to achieve the polling numbers necessary for debate inclusion and facing challenges with ballot access in several states. His campaign claims they are either meeting requirements or actively petitioning in nearly all states.