Donald Trump: “Cornel West—he’s one of my favorite candidates. I like her also—Jill Stein. You know why? She takes 100% from them. He takes 100%. Kennedy —probably 50-50.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, MoveOn Political Action called out Donald Trump for saying the quiet part out loud: Third-party spoilers will deliver the White House to Trump. During the Trump campaign’s Saturday night rally in Philadelphia, Trump acknowledged that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jill Stein, and Cornel West would all take votes away from President Biden —emphasizing that that’s why they are his favorite candidates.
“Donald Trump is finally dropping the pretense and saying what we already know. Republican operatives have financially supported and offered grassroots support to RFK Jr., Jill Stein, and Cornel West because they will spoil the election for President Biden. A vote for any of those candidates is just as good as a vote for the MAGA agenda, and Donald Trump knows that,” said MoveOn Political Action Chief Communications Officer Joel Payne. “RFK Jr., Stein, and West need to read the writing on the wall and drop out of the race. Our country may not survive another Trump presidency, and by undermining President Biden’s reelection bid, they are playing a dangerous game with the American people as collateral.”
BACKGROUND:
- Trump allies have publicly stated they are plotting to spoil the election against President Biden by backing third-party candidates, including Jill Stein and Cornel West as well as RFK Jr.
- RFK Jr.’s Super PAC, American Values 2024, is being kept afloat by one donor: Trump megadonor Tim Mellon, who has given the operation $25 million.
- Other RFK Jr. fundraisers have been linked to January 6, QAnoners, Christian nationalists, and far-right extremists.
- Republican operatives in North Carolina, a key battleground state, are working to get West on the presidential ballot.
- In Delaware, RFK Jr. is working with the Independent Party of Delaware (IPD), which has known ties to extremist, right-wing individuals. Its vice chairman, Phil Dyer, attended the riot at the Capitol on January 6 and recently called for another.
- RFK Jr. is also working with the “Natural Law Party” of Michigan, which nominated RFK Jr. at a two-person convention led by a part-time magician, while leaders from the same party’s Florida branch called RFK Jr.’s campaign “scammers.”