By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Biden orders protection for Kennedy
US President Joe Biden has ordered Secret Service protection for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after an attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the homeland security chief said Monday.
“In light of this weekend’s events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr.,” United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, told journalists.
Kennedy, from America’s most famous political family, is an environmental lawyer and a long-time vaccine skeptic. Though he has little chance of winning in November, his candidacy could influence close races in key swing states.
Trump had earlier in the day called for Secret Service protection to be extended to Kennedy.
“In light of what is going on in the world today, I believe it is imperative that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. receive Secret Service protection — immediately. Given the history of the Kennedy Family, this is the obvious right thing to do!” Trump posted on social media.
The 78-year-old former president was injured but survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, a shocking attack in a nation already deeply polarized ahead of the November election.
Biden Orders Protection for Kennedy