Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Airs Bigoted New Covid Conspiracy Theory

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Controversial Claims: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Faces Backlash Over Covid Conspiracy Theories

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent conspiracy-filled tirade regarding Covid-19 has stirred controversy and accusations of antisemitism and racism. At a private gathering in New York, captured on video by The New York Post, Kennedy suggested that the virus was engineered to spare certain ethnic groups, specifically Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. His remarks have sparked outrage and concern about the spread of false and bigoted ideas.

Kennedy’s political career has been marked by the promotion of false conspiracy theories, including those related to Covid-19, vaccines, mass surveillance, and elections. However, his recent claims about the coronavirus targeting specific ethnicities stray into new and troubling territory.

Asian Americans, in particular, faced a surge of assaults during the early stages of the pandemic, as some people blamed the Chinese for intentionally releasing the virus. Kennedy’s remarks about Chinese immunity perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to racial tensions.

Moreover, Kennedy’s comments about Ashkenazi Jews evoke historical antisemitic tropes. The notion that Jews are somehow separate from Caucasians has fueled bigotry for centuries, and the conspiracy of Jewish immunity from tragedy has been part of antisemitic attacks throughout history.

A conspiracy-filled rant by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the Covid-19 virus was engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people has stirred accusations of antisemitism and racism in the Democratic candidate’s long-shot run for president. https://t.co/LbVc1WhZoJ

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 16, 2023

Abraham Foxman, a former head of the Anti-Defamation League, condemned Kennedy’s remarks, highlighting their connection to antisemitic stereotypes about Jews protecting themselves from diseases.

In response to The New York Post’s story, Kennedy attempted to defend his remarks on Twitter, suggesting that the United States is developing ethnically targeted bioweapons. His defense only deepened his conspiratorial claims.

Kennedy referenced a scientific paper that allegedly supported his statements, but the study in question did not make any reference to Chinese people as more receptive to the virus, nor did it speak of targeting the virus. The study merely mentioned the absence of a particular receptor for the virus in Amish and Ashkenazi Jews.

This is not the first time Kennedy has strayed into controversial territory. Last year, he made an insensitive reference to Anne Frank during an anti-vaccination mandate rally in Washington, comparing Covid restrictions to the plight of Anne Frank during the Holocaust.

Even Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, condemned his comments about Anne Frank, emphasizing the reprehensibility and insensitivity of his remarks.

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Faces criticism for his bigoted conspiracy theories and false claims, it is important to remain vigilant against the spread of misinformation and harmful stereotypes.