RFK Jr. suggests independent support for Trump will drop in wake of debate

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested Wednesday that former President Trump’s debate performance could have an impact on independent support, saying polling next week might show a “drop in support” within the key group of voters. 

Trump “got distracted, and it’s unfortunate,” Kennedy said in an interview on Fox News’s Your World with Neil Cavuto. “I think he really had an airtight argument for his presidency, but he wasn’t able to make that case to the American public.” 

Trump has claimed he won Tuesday’s debate and suggested that subsequent polling reflects that. A CNN flash poll conducted after the debate found that most viewers, 63 percent, believed that Vice President Harris beat Trump. 

But Kennedy questioned the accuracy of those polls.

“A lot of them probably have statistical problems,” Kennedy said. 

Despite his thoughts on Trump’s performance, Kennedy said that he would still support the former president.

“I was listening to the substance, and on the substance, President Trump wins,” Kennedy said. 

In the interview, Kennedy applauded Harris, saying she “clearly won the debate in terms of her delivery … polish, organization and her preparation. 

He didn’t completely abandon his loyalty to Trump, saying the former president “wins in terms of his governance.” 

“But he didn’t tell that story,” Kennedy added. “In fact, the first question was an extraordinary lost opportunity.”

Kennedy argued that Trump could’ve answered the first question — which inquired about whether Americans are better off now than they were four years ago — with more depth by citing things such as the increased tensions in the Middle East or poverty rates.

“All of these things can be attributed to poor leadership from the Biden-Harris team, and that’s the argument he should have been making,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy endorsed Trump after suspending his campaign and effectively exiting the race. Last week, Kennedy said he planned to appear at swing state rallies with the former president. 

Story was updated 3:44 p.m. ET