'He’s panicking': Internet abuzz as RFK Jr and Donald Trump exchange barbs amid call for debate

WASHINGTON, DC: Robert F Kennedy Jr, the presidential candidate from the Independent Party, issued a public challenge to his political adversary, former President Donald Trump, to engage in a debate to discuss their differences, according to RadarOnline.com.

The 77-year-old MAGA strongman responded to this challenge with a scathing rant on his proprietary social networking platform, Truth Social, on Thursday, May 9.

Kennedy Jr recently announced his successful bid for candidacy in Delaware and Ohio, thereby furthering his efforts to gain nationwide ballot access.

Trump's response to RFK Jr's call for debate

In his open letter to Trump posted on X, Kennedy Jr proposed a debate at the upcoming Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC, scheduled for May 24 and 25.

Kennedy Jr wrote, "It’s perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters.”

"You yourself have said you’re not afraid to debate me as long as my poll numbers are decent," the 70-year-old claimed. "Well, they are."

"So let’s meet at the Libertarian convention and show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren’t afraid to debate each other," the independent presidential hopeful implored Trump, adding that he "asked the convention organizers and they are game for us to use our time there to bring the American people the debate they deserve!"

Former President Trump did not say if he planned to accept RFK Jr's debate invitation, but he did post a video tirade on Truth Social, dubbing his opponent "more liberal than anyone running on the Democratic side."

"RFK Jr is a Democrat plant,” the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee remarked, "a radical left liberal who's been put in place in order to help crooked Joe Biden, the worst president in the history of the United States, get reelected."

The ex-Commander-in-Chief declared that "a vote for Junior would essentially be a wasted protest vote that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if the Republicans knew the true story about him."

"Junior is totally anti-gun, an extreme environmentalist who makes the green new 'scammers' look very Conservative by comparison," Trump added, before firing off several other accusations about his rival, calling him a "big-time taxer," an "open border advocate," "anti-military," and "anti-Vet."

He also said that RFK Jr—who had mistakenly referred to the COVID-19 vaccine as the "deadliest vaccine ever made"—was "not really an anti-vaxxer," depicting this as a negative character trait.

RFK Jr stated in a post on X that the pandemic was one of the topics he intended to discuss in a debate.

"I think Americans deserve a President who will never close our businesses or our churches or suspend our Constitution," he wrote, addressing the former POTUS. "Obviously you disagree. Let’s hash it out in a civil debate!"

Internet abuzz as RFK Jr and Trump exchange barbs

One X user remarked, "He definitely hated on your beautiful and very good vaccine!"

Another said, "Oh please. RFK Jr. is a #Spoiler4Trump, not a plant for the Dems."

Someone else wrote, "Someone is getting nervous."

One user claimed, "Definitely a gambit to split the vote, proved by the political theater around his exit from the Dem party, to make it look authentic. Nonsense."

Another X user asked, "The democrats hate RFK, so I would say false. But I do see why you’d be concerned. Instead of attacking, should you ask him to join your cabinet?"

Someone else tweeted, "He’s panicking because Republicans are the only ones who support RFK."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.