Environmentalists Urge RFK Jr. to Withdraw from Presidential Race

Environmentalists are urging Robert Kennedy Jr. to withdraw from his independent presidential campaign, as reported by multiple sources.

A group of Kennedy’s former colleagues at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are making their case through full-page ads set to be published in newspapers in six swing states on Sunday, according to The New York Times.

“A vote for RFK Jr. is a vote to undo that progress and return [Donald] Trump to the White House,” states the newspaper ad scheduled to run in Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

The signatories, which include NRDC co-founder John Hamilton Adams, former presidents, and the current president of the organization, are appealing to Kennedy to “Honor our planet, drop out.”

According to The Independent, another NRDC ad states: “In a mere vanity candidacy, RFK Jr. has opted to act as an election spoiler to the advantage of Donald Trump – the worst environmental president our country has ever seen.”

In addition, various national environmental organizations have issued an open letter denouncing Kennedy, a former environmental attorney, as a “dangerous conspiracy theorist and science denier” who promotes harmful beliefs about vaccines and climate change.

“While he may have once practiced as an environmental lawyer, RFK Jr. is now spreading misinformation about ‘climate change orthodoxy’ and making empty promises to improve our environment with superficial proposals. In truth, by rejecting scientific evidence, he is no different from Donald Trump,” the letter stated.

The organizations that signed the letter include Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, Climate Emergency Advocates, Climate Power, Earthjustice Action, Food & Water Action, Friends of the Earth Action, LCV Victory Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, NextGen America, Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, and 350 Action.

Kennedy’s campaign, wielding one of the most iconic surnames in U.S. politics, poses a threat to President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects.

With double-digit support, Kennedy is impacting President Biden’s chances for a second term more than Trump, according to polling data.

On Thursday, Kennedy dismissed the idea that he could help Trump return to office.

“President Biden doesn’t need my assistance to lose to Donald Trump,” Kennedy told the Times.