Robert F Kennedy Jr reignites family feud by mimicking JFK advert for own presidential bid

Robert F Kennedy Jr has apologised to his family for a campaign advert aired during the Super Bowl that remade a video used by his uncle John F Kennedy during the 1960 presidential election.

The 30-second slot, which cost $7 million, features a pink-tinted, collage-style medley of drawings of placards with the name Kennedy and assorted photographs. It uses the same jingle and artwork but replaces JFK’s picture with that of 70-year-old Mr Kennedy, who is running as an independent for the White House.

The advert, which was aired nationally on Sunday night and seen by more than 100 million people, prompted a backlash from his cousins and has rekindled the bitter rift in the Kennedy clan.

Bobby Shriver wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “My cousin’s Super Bowl ad used our uncle’s faces – and my mother’s [Eunice Kennedy, JFK’s sister].

“She would be appalled by his deadly health care views. Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA. She strongly supported my health care work ... which he opposes”

His brother, Mark Shriver, retweeted the post, adding: “I agree with my brother @BobbyShriver. Simple as that.”

Mr Kennedy’s views – including his anti-vaccine stance and belief in a raft of conspiracy theories – are at odds with the liberal stance of the rest of the family.

He later used X to apologise, writing: “I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain. The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC [Federal Election Commission] rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God bless you.”

The Shrivers’ broadside was the latest in a series of attacks on Mr Kennedy by his family.

In October, his four siblings publicly voiced their opposition to his presidential campaign, which they said was “deeply saddening” and “perilous for our country”.

They have been infuriated by Mr Kennedy’s incendiary remarks about vaccines – such as when he claimed those who opposed the Covid vaccine were being persecuted more severely than Anne Frank, who died in a Nazi concentration camp.

In December 2021, he defied his mother, Ethel Kennedy, by supporting the release of Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of killing his father, Bobby Kennedy, in June 1968 when he was the favourite to win the presidential nomination.

Fears RFK Jr will hurt Biden more than Trump

Mr Kennedy’s supporters have sought to promote him as holding the same values as his uncle and father, often leaning on his famous family name and celebrity connections.

The message was reiterated by Tony Lyons, the co-founder of the American Values Super PAC.

Mr Lyons said in a statement on Sunday: “RFK Jr offers us real change along with freedom, trust and hope. Like his uncle and his father, Kennedy is a corruption-fighter, and it’s no wonder the DNC [Democratic National Committee] is trying every old trick and inventing new tricks to stop him. The public sees through it all and won’t stand for it.”

Despite being a rank outsider, some of Mr Kennedy’s poll numbers are better than those of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. According to FiveThirtyEight, he has a positive “net favorability” rating of 7.4 per cent

There are growing fears his entry into the race will hit Mr Biden and help Mr Trump.

Democrats have also attacked his decision to run, pointing out that Timothy Mellon, a major donor to his Super PAC, has also given money to the Trump Super PAC.

“It’s fitting that the first national ad promoting Robert F Kennedy Jr’s candidacy was bought and paid for by Donald Trump’s largest donor this cycle. RFK Jr is nothing more than a Trump stalking horse in this race,” said  Alex Floyd, a DNC spokesman.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.