RFK Jr. Accuses US Government of ‘Addiction to War’ in South Carolina Town Hall

RFK Jr. speaks at a town hall in Greenville, S.C., on Aug. 21 as part of a statewide town hall tour. (Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times)

GREENVILLE, S.C.–Before a large and enthusiastic town hall crowd on Monday in this upstate South Carolina city, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized President Joe Biden’s recent request for another $24 billion in assistance for Ukraine.

Mr. Kennedy said the war in Ukraine is one of the root causes of America’s current economic problems.

“One of the big problems we have in our federal government is the addiction to war,” Mr. Kennedy said. “President Biden went to Congress and asked for another $24 billion for the Ukraine War.

“We’ve spent $8 trillion dollars on wars since 9/11. If we kept that money home, we would’ve had childcare for every American. We would have free college education for every American. We’d be able to pay for our Social Security system,” Mr. Kennedy explained, prompting applause from the crowd.

RFK Jr.'s town hall in Greenville, S.C., drew a large and enthusiastic crowd on Aug. 21,  2023. (Jeff Louderback/.The Epoch Times)

Congress authorized $113.1 billion for Ukraine in 2022, according to The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB).

The White House earlier in August asked Congress for $24 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 to provide humanitarian, military, and financial assistance in Ukraine, with $8.5 billion set aside for economic, humanitarian, and security assistance, according to the request.

According to a Heritage Foundation study, Congress has approved $113 billion in taxpayer aid to Ukraine less than two years after Russia’s invasion. That represents around $900 per U.S. household. according to a new analysis from the foundation.

Since announcing his candidacy in April to challenge President Biden, Mr. Kennedy has called for peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and has repeatedly chastised the Biden administration for continuing to fund Ukraine.

As part of his reasoning for ending the Ukraine war, Mr. Kennedy referenced his uncle, President John F. Kennedy.

“My uncle Jack said that the primary job of an American President of the United States is to keep the country out of war. He kept out of Vietnam. He sent only 16,000 military advisers there—mainly Green Berets,” Mr. Kennedy noted. “In October 1963, he learned that one of his Green Berets had died, and he asked his aide to give him a combat casualty list, and the aide came back and said 75 had died so far. He said: ‘That’s too many.’”

A Peaceful Conclusion

Mr. Kennedy has frequently reiterated his stance that talks should take place with Russia to seek a peaceful conclusion in the Ukraine war.

“We have made no effort to talk to the Russian leadership for many, many months—almost a year. And there have been many efforts by the Russian leadership to engage Ukraine in peace negotiations. And we have rebuffed these,” Mr. Kennedy explained.

“We need to be talking directly with Vladimir Putin and all sides, and we need to settle the insanity before we initiate another nuclear exchange that would destroy all of humanity.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times about Mr. Kennedy’s criticism, but National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby earlier this month told the Associated Press, “For people who might be concerned the costs are getting too high, we’d ask them what the costs—not just in treasure but in blood, perhaps even American blood—could be if Putin subjugates Ukraine.”

While Mr. Kennedy tours South Carolina, President Biden’s reelection campaign recently announced it is launching a $25 million series of ads targeting seven battleground states ahead of the 2024 Democratic primaries.

Ads will air in Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Spots will also target Hispanics in Florida, according to the campaign.

South Carolina is scheduled to lead off the 2024 Democratic presidential primary season in February. Mr. Kennedy is traveling around the state for what will be the first of many visits as he challenges President Biden for the party’s nomination.

Earlier this year, encouraged by President Biden, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) voted to strip the Iowa caucus of its traditional lead-off spot in the party’s presidential nominating process and replace it with South Carolina. Under the new format, South Carolina will be the first Democratic primary, on Feb. 3. New Hampshire has long been the country’s, and the GOP’s, first primary after the Iowa caucuses. Under the new calendar, which differs from the Republicans’ primary calendar, it would vote with Nevada on Feb. 6.

At each of his town halls in South Carolina, Mr. Kennedy focused his message on improving the economy.

“The two major candidates are running on the idea that they brought prosperity to our country,” Mr. Kennedy said. “As I travel around South Carolina and other states, I’m not seeing many Americans enjoying that kind of prosperity. I’m seeing people sitting at their kitchen tables and wondering how they are going to pay the bills.

“The average income in this country is now $5,000 less than the average cost of living for basic human needs—food, transportation, and housing.”

John Fisher, a registered independent, attended RFK Jr.'s town hall in Florence, S.C., on Aug. 20, 2023. (Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times)

Mr. Biden won South Carolina in the 2020 Democratic primary. But John Fisher, a registered independent, believes that Mr. Kennedy has a path to victory in the state in 2024.

“There’s no candidate that articulates an issue better. He answers questions thoroughly and with facts and research. He doesn’t answer with a prepared response to fit a political agenda,” Mr. Fisher told The Epoch Times after the town hall in Florence.

“He is the only candidate right now working to build a bridge between the left and the right. There is no other candidate on either side who does that,” Mr. Fisher added. “People here want to hear about solutions. And how they will get done. He (Kennedy) does that, and he is giving people hope with his message of healing the divide.”

India Byrd, 29, worked for President Donald Trump's campaign in South Carolina in 2020. She now volunteers for RFK Jr.'s campaign as she stands with Kennedy 2024 yard signs in Florence, S.C., on Aug. 20, 2023. (Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times)

India Byrd is a 29-year-old college graduate who owns and operates a commercial and residential cleaning business in the Florence area. She was a regional field director for President Trump’s campaign in 2020 and is now volunteering for Mr. Kennedy’s campaign in South Carolina.

“He is the best candidate we’ve seen in a long time because of his knowledge and his common sense approach,” Ms. Byrd said as she handed out Kennedy yard signs outside the Florence town hall. “At a time when many people are struggling financially, he is resonating with the middle class and how decisions in Washington are affecting us here.”

“I see a lot of Trump supporters at these events who are interested in Kennedy,” Ms. Byrd added. “People are tired of the extremes. They are tired of candidates who are far to the right or far to the left. They want someone who is reasonable. I hope that South Carolina sets a precedent for the rest of the states and gives him (Kennedy) early momentum.

“The key for Mr. Kennedy is for people to hear him and meet him. Once they do, they are impressed because of how thorough he is with his views and his plans.”

For Mr. Kennedy to win in South Carolina, Ms. Byrd believes that he must overcome the lack of coverage and attention in the mainstream media.

The Kennedy camp is in agreement, and this month the candidate is expected to make multiple visits to New Hampshire and South Caroline, along with Iowa, Michigan, and Nevada, to reach voters ahead of the early 2024 primary season.

“New Hampshire has played an important role in presidential campaigns. They have an affinity for vetting candidates early on in the process, and they do a very good job of it,” Mr. Kennedy said. “In New Hampshire, you have to go to the barber shops and the nail salons and the diners, and you have to shake hands with people, and you have to answer difficult questions. It’s important to do that in every state.

‘Americans Are Being Left Out’

“Campaigning has changed a lot with all the money that is involved. It’s really about fundraising now. And that puts you in touch with millionaires and billionaires while regular Americans are being left out,” he said. “Many Americans I have talked to feel like nobody’s listening to them, nobody’s talking to them, and nobody cares about them. There’s a level of desperation in this country that nobody ever imagined that we'd be experiencing in the United States, and the politicians seem unaware.”

Mr. Kennedy has gained support from conservatives, independents, and moderates, but he understands his stance on abortion could deter Republicans from casting their votes for him.

“I can argue there’s nobody in this country that has worked harder for the rights of medical freedom and personal bodily autonomy than me. That applies to vaccines and abortion,” Mr. Kennedy told The Epoch Times.

“Some people are going to vote on one issue—abortion, for example—and I absolutely respect that,” Mr. Kennedy added. “I’ve seen photos of late-term abortions, and they’re horrifyingly troubling.

“I respect people who have different points of view, and for people who say that ‘it’s the only issue that I care about,’ they will likely vote for someone else because of my beliefs,” Mr. Kennedy said.

During the question-and-answer session with the audience at the Greenville town hall, Charlotte Smith, an elementary school-aged girl, stepped up.

“How will you fight for the rights of unborn children?” she asked.

“What I believe is that there is no good choice. Every abortion is a tragedy. I have respect for people who have a differing opinion,” Mr. Kennedy responded.

“I have fought all my life for medical freedom and bodily autonomy. That applies to everything,“ he added. ”I believe we should trust women and let them make that decision. I don’t trust the government.”