The Kennedy family formally announced on Thursday that they were endorsing President Joe Biden, and Kerry Kennedy made her case to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer while someone screamed loudly in the background.
To their credit, Kennedy and Blitzer continued the interview as the disturbance took place behind Kennedy at the campaign event venue. Kennedy told Blitzer:
You know, I’m endorsing President Biden. And in fact, nearly every member of Joe and Rose Kennedy’s grandchildren are endorsing President Biden today for one reason: We are in the most important presidential election of our lifetime. This is, [former President Donald Trump] is, poses an existential threat to our country. He has said he’s proud of backing the Supreme Court and overturning Roe v. Wade. He said he’s going to be a dictator on day one. He said he wants to change the Constitution so he can go after his enemies, members of the press, the fourth estate in our country, which keeps our democracy going.
We cannot have this happen in our country. It would be a complete disaster if he is selected. Joe Biden, on the other hand, has been an extraordinary leader for us. He has stood with the United Auto Workers. He is a man we can trust and who carries forth Bobby Kennedy’s values and [former President John Kennedy] as well.
Blitzer then asked about her brother, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as a possible spoiler in November:
Blitzer: As you know, Kerry, the Biden campaign is concerned that your brother will potentially take votes away from President Biden in some of the very key and close swing states. Are you concerned that your brother will play potentially a spoiler role in this election?
Kennedy: You know I think we all know this is going to be a very, very close election. So the only way Biden will win is everybody comes out and votes. That’s the way Biden wins. So we need everybody to come and vote. Vote for President Biden. You vote for somebody else, that’s a vote for Trump. Don’t do that. Vote for Biden.
That last part was when the screaming started in the background, which followed an apparent heated argument, though the crowd inside and Kennedy’s more isolated voice made it difficult to hear what was happening from the CNN angle. But another angle was captured on camera by NTD News’ Iris Tao and posted on Twitter/X. The screaming matches what is heard in the CNN footage, and you can hear the man shouting, “I have rights! I have rights! I have rights to be here!” before being led away:
A protester just got escorted out of Biden’s campaign event here in Philadelphia. “I have rights to be here,” the person screamed as he was pulled away. pic.twitter.com/Y69ySBeI3e
— Iris Tao (@IrisTaoTV) April 18, 2024
For his part, RFK Jr. responded to his family’s apparent rejection of his candidacy on Twitter/X, saying in part: “I hear some of my family will be endorsing President Biden today. I am pleased they are politically active — it’s a family tradition. We are divided in our opinions but united in our love for each other. I hold this as a possibility for America too. Can we disagree without hating our opponents? Can we restore civility and respect to public discourse? I think we can.”
Watch the video above via CNN.
