“I won't take sides on 9/11”: RFK Jr. promises transparency to conspiracists

The independent candidate, who spread vaccine lies, stopped short of doubting the official story of the attacks

By Griffin Eckstein

News Fellow

Published July 5, 2024 4:33PM (EDT)

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. delivers a speech outlining his foreign policy vision at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.  (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. delivers a speech outlining his foreign policy vision at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Long-shot presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy vowed not to “take sides” on 9/11, promising transparency to his voters as he amplifies conspiracies.

The independent candidate, poising himself as a more moderate option between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, validated doubters of the nature of the deadly terrorist attacks, in a rant on X.

“As president, I won't take sides on 9/11,” the candidate wrote, adding that he would release classified documents related to the infamous terrorist attacks perpetrated by Al Qaeda. 

For more than two decades, doubts have circulated amongst conspiracy theorists about the attack, including allegations that the U.S. government played a part in the deaths of the nearly 3,000 victims.

“It's hard to tell what is a conspiracy theory and what isn’t,” Kennedy told voters in the call for transparency. “But conspiracy theories flourish when the government routinely lies to the public.”

Kennedy — who has pushed dangerous conspiracy theories on vaccines, the media, and other topics — hasn’t been too vocal on the attacks before.

As he lags in the polls, and in support amongst members of his own family, the former environmental lawyer doubled down on appeals to conspiracists.

The comments come as part of a string of gaffes and serious allegations that have hampered the candidate’s performance against two unpopular opponents.

After a recent profile in Vanity Fair brought some unflattering revelations to light, including claims that he sexually assaulted a babysitter, ate a dog, and shared potentially nonconsensual pornography, Kennedy denied some allegations but stopped short of disputing the sexual assault.


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