Kennedy's son, Robert F. The video was first posted by Kennedy III, who said it was recorded Sunday, a day after Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania and a day before the start of the Republican National Convention.

After a video was posted online showing part of a private phone call between independent presidential candidate and former Republican President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized Tuesday. The video shows Kennedy listening on speakerphone as Trump shares false claims about childhood vaccines, an issue that has helped Kennedy build a loyal following among those who reject the scientific consensus that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks of rare complications. Trump also appears to support Kennedy in his campaign. “I'd love for you to do that,” Trump tells Kennedy. “And I think it will be very good for you and very big for you. And we're going to win.”

Kennedy says little in part of the leaked conversation, which begins when Trump is already talking about vaccines. “I was taping with a home videographer when President Trump called me,” Kennedy wrote on the X platform. “I should have ordered the videographer to stop recording immediately. I feel bad for posting this. I apologize to the president.”

I was taping with a home videographer when President Trump called me. I should have ordered the videographer to stop recording immediately. I feel bad for posting this. I apologize to the president.

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (@RobertKennedyJr.) 16 July 2024

Kennedy's son, Robert F. The video was first posted by Kennedy III, who said it was recorded Sunday, a day after Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania and a day before the start of the Republican National Convention. It was deleted after a while but copies of it continued to circulate on social media.

Kennedy's spokeswoman, Stephanie Speer, said Monday that he is not leaving. His campaign focuses on the difficult task of getting on the ballot in all 50 states without the support of a political party, which takes a lot of time and money.

Allies of both Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden worry about how Kennedy's campaign will affect their own White House prospects. Third-party candidates rarely receive more than a few percent of the vote, but Democrats blame Green Party candidates in 2000 and 2016 for tipping the election in Republican favor.

Kennedy has used unconventional platforms, including podcasts and YouTube, to build a following with young voters and distrustful institutions, hoping to bring Trump into his fold. Democrats worry that Kennedy will pick off some of the anti-Trump voters they hope will instead turn to Biden and help the former president win.

In the call with Kennedy, Trump discussed the assassination attempt on him and the subsequent phone call he received from Biden, which he said was “very nice.” He compared the feeling of having his ear cut off by a bullet to “the biggest mosquito in the world”.