In a surprising turn of events, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s New York campaign staff member, Rita Palma, was fired after admitting that preventing President Joe Biden’s victory was her top priority. Palma’s remarks at a GOP meeting encouraged volunteers to support former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, sparking controversy within Kennedy’s campaign. Despite Palma’s dismissal, she expressed her unwavering support for Kennedy and labeled the focus on her comments as a “distraction.”
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, the campaign manager and Kennedy’s daughter-in-law, emphasized that Palma was terminated for misrepresentation after a longer video surfaced. Palma’s departure, confirmed by CNN, prompted her to defend her actions, claiming that she had been truthful in her dealings with the campaign. Despite the controversy, Palma reflected on her time with Team Kennedy as one of the best political experiences in her life, expressing no ill will towards the campaign.
The Kennedy campaign downplayed Palma’s role, describing her as a “ballot access consultant,” and sought to distance themselves from her controversial statements. While Democrats and Biden allies view Kennedy’s campaign as a spoiler that could benefit Trump, the Trump campaign has largely ignored Kennedy’s independent candidacy. With the challenge of obtaining ballot access in New York looming, the Kennedy campaign faces a critical and challenging road ahead in their quest to qualify for the ballot in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
