RFK Jr. Recruits MAGA Influencers

What’s happening: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using pro-Trump influencers’ posts to drive attention to Kennedy social media content. The Kennedy campaign wants to sway Republicans toward the third-party candidate and away from Trump.

• The details: The Kennedy campaign paid Total Virality LLC, which is run by Zach Henry, who recently worked on Vivek Ramaswamy's failed presidential bid, nearly $8,000 for “influencer engagement.”

• Playing both sides: The Washington Free Beacon reports, “Many of [Zach Henry’s X] posts attack Trump and celebrate Kennedy’s stance on issues related to vaccine skepticism or the recently passed TikTok divestment bill, which he opposes.”

Electoral strategy: RFK Jr. — who originally ran as a Democrat — embraces many hallmark left-wing measures such as gun control and environmentalism. However, his vocal attacks on the Democrat establishment, vaccine skepticism, and calls to secure the southern border have resonated with Republican voters.

MAGA reacts: Trump has increasingly been attacking Kennedy, calling him a “radical left liberal” and “Democrat plant.” The former president has also drawn attention to RFK’s and his running mate’s left-wing beliefs in an effort to deter on-the-fence Republicans from straying towards the third-party candidate.

• Democrats, too: President Biden and the Democratic Party have been especially aggressive towards Kennedy, dedicating time and money to prevent him from gaining ballot access.

Why it matters: Despite his left-wing bona fides, Kennedy is on a mission to win disaffected Republicans. This could pose a threat to Trump, who is already in a neck-and-neck race with Biden.