RFK Jr. Releases ‘State of Our Union’ Video Before Biden’s Address

Before President Joe Biden repeatedly attacked his “predecessor, a former Republican president” during his State of the Union address, and President Donald Trump responded by labeling it “an angry, polarizing, and hate-filled speech,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had released a “State of Our Union” video that encouraged unity and criticized “fear-mongering.”

“Our nation seems more divided than ever, but Americans everywhere want to heal that divide. Our nation has become artificially divided by political forces that can survive only when we the people are at war with each other,” Mr. Kennedy said.

“People are tired of being manipulated by fear. We learned that lesson during COVID. We recognize that the same techniques of manipulating fear are being used by elites today to corral us into voting for one political candidate or the other. Americans are tired of these dire warnings that to preserve democracy itself you better vote for our guy. I can tell you that in every state of this union, people are rejecting fear-mongering,” he added.

In multiple national polls, more than half of American voters have said they do not want a rematch between President Biden and President Trump. In the video, Mr. Kennedy said, “Americans say they don’t want to be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. They’re tired of voting against something or someone. I see it in the crowds, [a] mix [of] Republicans and Democrats and independents will attend my rallies, that a growing number of Americans are rejecting divisiveness. They’re ready to unite to rebuild this country and fulfill the promise of the America of my youth.”

President Trump posted a running commentary on Truth Social about President Biden’s address. Mr. Kennedy took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted several times about President Biden’s remarks.

Mr. Kennedy has frequently criticized President Biden’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war and has called for an end to funding Ukraine and a conclusion to the conflict.

During his State of the Union address, President Biden said, “My predecessor, a former Republican president, tells Putin, ‘Do whatever the hell you want.’ A former American president actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader.”

President Biden added, “My message to President Putin is simple. We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down,” while urging more aid for Ukraine.

Mr. Kennedy has said multiple times that the war was avoidable and that the conflict was a “money laundering scheme” for U.S. defense contractors.

Funding Ukraine has contributed to America’s economic woes, Mr. Kennedy believes.

In his video, Mr. Kennedy noted that “We’ve printed nine centuries worth of money in a little over a decade, and spent $8 trillion on regime change wars. Those wars have made America less safe, our country less strong while soaring prices through the roof as our infrastructure falls apart.”

He said that tens of millions of young Americans “no longer even dream” of owning a home.

“What happened to America the land of opportunity where you could be sure that if you worked hard and played by the rules that you would have a decent life?” Mr. Kennedy added.

During his address, President Biden highlighted what he considers successes, including the Inflation Reduction Act and the infrastructure bill. Mr. Kennedy, however, offered a different perspective.

“All the new wealth of the last generation has gone to the billionaires and to transnational corporations, while our tattered middle class, our infrastructure, our industry have been hollowed out from the inside. Instead of promise, we’ve left our kids sick and drowning in debt. The public debt has gone from about $5 trillion under President George W. Bush to $34 trillion today, and U.S. household debt is at a record high of $17.3 trillion,” Mr. Kennedy wrote on X.

‘Shrinkflation’

President Biden chastised corporations for “shrinkflation,” a contention that they are cheating consumers by providing less product for the same price.

“President Biden wants to discuss how our kids aren’t getting as many potato chips as they used to. We lead the world in obesity and chronic disease. According to the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], 60 percent of Americans have at least one chronic condition. When my uncle was president, only 6 percent of Americans had chronic disease. All of these plights fall heaviest on our young people. It’s time for us to say enough is enough.”

At campaign stops Mr. Kennedy has lamented how President Biden and President Trump are not talking about chronic diseases and developing a plan to combat the crisis. He has vowed to significantly reduce chronic diseases and make the issue a priority if he is elected president.

“I want to tell you right now that we can still restore that America, the America that almost was, and yet maybe but we have to start by being honest with ourselves. Neither my uncle nor my father would recognize the version of America that we have,” Mr. Kennedy said in the video.

“We have become a nation of chronic illness and violence, of depression and division, and poverty. Our great cities are becoming modern-day Hoovervilles, filled with undocumented immigrants, dispossessed Americans, and people living in their cars with mental illness and addiction and despair,” Mr. Kennedy continued.

“We have one of the highest cancer rates in the world, and our life expectancy now ranks 59 in the world. We now have the worst health outcomes in the rich world, the highest maternal mortality rates, the highest number of gun deaths per capita, and the highest number of teen pregnancies,” he added.

Mr. Kennedy has led all presidential candidates in several favorability rating polls but remains a distant third in the RealClearPolitics average of presidential polls behind President Trump and President Biden. He still believes there is a path to victory as he continues his quest to get on ballots nationwide. In his video, Mr. Kennedy states that voters are seeking an alternative to the two major party options.

“They are ready to unite to rebuild this country. They are ready to vote for someone who represents hope and healing. For someone with an inspiring vision for America’s future. For a future they can believe in.”