Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, prides himself on being open to changing his mind based on facts.
In a radio appearance on “Good Morning New Hampshire” in June, he stated, “If I’m wrong about something, tell me the facts and I’m going to change my position.”
His shifting stances on various policy matters have made it challenging to pin down his exact views on key issues and how he would reshape the country if elected.
Although Mr. Kennedy is known for his anti-vaccine activism and promotion of conspiracy theories, his blend of populist economic rhetoric, isolationist foreign policy leanings, and skepticism of government has garnered a significant base of support. He is also benefitting from the dissatisfaction among Americans with the current political landscape.
Initially running against President Biden as a Democrat, Mr. Kennedy switched to running as an independent last year. Recent polls indicate that he could draw votes away from both major party candidates in a general election.
Here’s an overview of Mr. Kennedy’s positions on key issues.
Abortion
Mr. Kennedy has shifted his stance on abortion over the past year, endorsing federal restrictions on abortion after the first trimester before retracting that position. He now supports a woman’s right to make decisions about abortion without government-imposed limits, even in later stages of pregnancy.
This shift sparked internal disagreements within his campaign over the abortion platform. Mr. Kennedy later clarified his position, stating that abortion should be unrestricted until the baby is viable outside the womb, with possible restrictions in the final months of pregnancy.
His campaign’s policy, “More Choices, More Life,” aims to reduce abortion rates by enhancing the social safety net for mothers and pregnant women. The plan includes subsidized daycare funded by reallocating resources from the Ukraine conflict and strengthening adoption services.
Immigration and the border
Mr. Kennedy advocates for sealing the southern border while expanding legal immigration opportunities, a strategy he refers to as “high walls, wide gates.”
His plan involves completing border wall construction using technology where physical barriers are unnecessary. The campaign also supports increased funding for asylum courts to expedite case reviews.
He has expressed support for Mr. Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy and has oscillated in his public statements about the importance of border security, at times downplaying it in favor of addressing more pressing issues like inflation and homeownership.
Climate change and the environment
Mr. Kennedy, an environmental advocate, pledges to be the most environmentally friendly president in American history.
His proposals include ending subsidies for fossil fuels, enforcing environmental laws rigorously, and implementing regulations on plastics and chemicals. He also emphasizes wildlife and land conservation efforts.
Mr. Kennedy criticizes the influence of corporate interests on U.S. environmental agencies and vows to replace corrupt agency leaders, imposing restrictions on officials lobbying former agencies.
While acknowledging the role of greenhouse gases in climate change, he has criticized the environmental movement’s focus on global warming and endorsed a free-market approach to reducing emissions.
He believes that the climate crisis is being used as a pretext for totalitarian control and advocates for a regulatory framework that combats fraud and predatory practices in the cryptocurrency market.
Foreign policy: Ukraine, Israel, and China
Mr. Kennedy takes an anti-interventionist stance, opposing U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and proposing a significant reduction in the military budget.
He criticizes military spending on protecting Ukraine and suggests reallocating those funds to secure U.S. borders. Mr. Kennedy aims to end the war immediately through diplomatic means and asserts that Russia should withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
Regarding China, his campaign indicates a potential de-escalation of military tensions without a commitment to defending Taiwan against Chinese aggression.
Mr. Kennedy expresses strong support for Israel, defending its military actions in Gaza and questioning cease-fire agreements with Hamas.
He proposes funding his agenda by cutting military expenditures, increasing corporate taxes, and eliminating corporate subsidies. His tax plan focuses on closing loopholes and deductions for the wealthy while enhancing child tax credits.
Mr. Kennedy also advocates for a regulatory framework in the cryptocurrency market that prevents fraud and predatory practices while ensuring transactional ease for users.
Vaccines and health
Mr. Kennedy’s stance on vaccines has been a prominent issue, with his past anti-vaccine activism drawing scrutiny. His campaign emphasizes a critique of the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and the food supply.
While not heavily emphasizing vaccines in his campaign, Mr. Kennedy aims to shift research focus at the National Institutes of Health towards chronic disease prevention. He plans to ban pharmaceutical advertising on television and remove protections for vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits.
