The political landscape is often rife with contradictions, but few U-turns are as stark as those made by individuals now cozying up to Donald Trump after previously drawing parallels between him and Adolf Hitler. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now a prominent figure in the political sphere, is among those whose past criticisms of Trump have resurfaced, casting a shadow over his current stance. Newly unearthed audio recordings from 2016 reveal Kennedy, during his time hosting the radio show “Ring of Fire,” comparing Trump to authoritarian figures like Hitler and echoing critiques that labeled Trump’s supporters as “belligerent idiots” and likened them to “outright Nazis.”
In a 2016 episode featuring journalist Matt Taibbi, Kennedy lauded Taibbi’s description of Trump’s base, highlighting the writer’s sharp analysis of how “a truly vicious nationalist movement” is constructed. Kennedy quoted Taibbi’s words, stating, “‘The way that you build a truly vicious nationalist movement is to wed a relatively small core of belligerent idiots to a much larger group of opportunists and spineless fellow travelers whose primary function is to turn a blind eye to things. We may not have that many outright Nazis in America, but we have plenty of cowards and bootlickers, and once those fleshy dominoes start tumbling into the Trump camp, the game is up.'”
Alt text: Journalist Matt Taibbi, mentioned in the context of RFK Jr.’s radio show and discussion about Donald Trump.
Following this quote, Kennedy acknowledged the gravity of the comparison but attempted to draw a distinction, suggesting Trump lacked Hitler’s strategic depth. “Hitler had like a plan, you know, Hitler was interested in policy,” Kennedy stated. “I don’t think Trump has any of that. He’s like non compos mentis. He’ll get in there and who knows what will happen.”
Beyond the Hitler comparison, Kennedy, with his background as a climate and energy lawyer, was also a vocal critic of Trump’s environmental policies. He characterized them as “pollution-based prosperity,” expressing concerns about the dismantling of environmental protections. “Trump isn’t just gonna destroy the climate, but he’s also promised last week when he spoke to the oil industry, the shale gas industry, he promised that he would get rid of the Clean Water Act,” Kennedy cautioned. “So he’s just gonna open the floodgates to every kind of pollution.”
Alt text: A rally for Donald Trump, former US President, illustrating the base of supporters discussed by RFK Jr. in his 2016 radio show.
Interestingly, Kennedy wasn’t alone in drawing Nazi comparisons within Trump’s orbit. J.D. Vance, now a Vice President-elect, also reportedly pondered whether Trump could be “America’s Hitler” in 2016 text messages. Vance’s private texts from that period revealed a similar internal conflict, as he wrote, “I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldn’t be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that he’s America’s Hitler.” Adding to his public critique, Vance penned an op-ed in 2016 arguing that Trump was “unfit for our nation’s highest office.”
Despite these strong condemnations, both Kennedy and Vance have seemingly reconciled with Trump, finding themselves within his political sphere. Kennedy, in a statement to CNN, downplayed his previous remarks, attributing them to believing a “distorted, dystopian portrait of President Trump” presented by the mainstream media. He stated, “I no longer hold this belief and now regret having made those statements.” This shift culminated in Kennedy abandoning his own presidential bid and endorsing Trump. Reports even suggest Kennedy sought a position in either Trump or his opponents’ administrations, with Trump ultimately accepting his endorsement.
Alt text: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pictured in a Rolling Stone article, subject of discussion regarding his past comparison of Donald Trump to Hitler.
Kennedy’s background is marked by controversies, including promoting vaccine conspiracy theories and medical misinformation, as well as facing sexual assault allegations. His potential proximity to influential positions within health agencies like the NIH, CDC, and FDA raises concerns for many. This situation is further contextualized by other scandal-ridden figures associated with Trump, such as Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination for Attorney General amid allegations of sexual misconduct, and Pete Hegseth, who faced accusations of sexual assault.
The journey of RFK Jr. from comparing Donald Trump to Hitler to becoming a supporter highlights the fluid and often unpredictable nature of politics. Whether this shift represents a genuine change of heart, political opportunism, or a reflection of the evolving political landscape remains a subject of debate. However, the unearthed audio serves as a stark reminder of the strong criticisms once leveled against Trump by those who now stand alongside him.
