In a recent interview, RFK Jr. described having a “visceral reaction” to the removal of Confederate statues and monuments. He argued that some “heroes in the Confederacy” may have had “other qualities” that should be revered. RFK Jr. said that Confederate general and slave owner Robert E. Lee’s “extraordinary qualities of leadership” should be recognized. He even went as far as to say we should “celebrate” this dark side of American history. 

Headlines 

The New York Times: R.F.K. Jr. Denounces the Removal of Confederate Statues

The Washington Post: RFK Jr. had a ‘visceral’ reaction to tear-downs of Confederate statues

Associated Press: Kennedy condemns the removal of Confederate monuments

CBS News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he opposed removal of Confederate monuments

NBC News: RFK Jr. says he opposes removing Confederate statues

Fox News: RFK Jr. slams Democrats for toppling Confederate statues: ‘Destroying history’

CNN: RFK Jr. says he had ‘visceral reaction against’ removal of Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville

Key Excerpts

The New York Times: R.F.K. Jr. Denounces the Removal of Confederate Statues

Key Excerpt: “In a podcast interview that aired live on Friday from the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, Mr. Kennedy, an independent candidate for president, portrayed the removal of statues honoring the Confederacy as ‘destroying history,’ echoing similar comments made by former President Donald J. Trump in support of the monuments. […] 

“Mr. Trump equated their removal to ‘changing history’ when he defended some participants of a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, who had gathered to protect the statue of Lee that was later removed.”

The Washington Post: RFK Jr. had a ‘visceral’ reaction to tear-downs of Confederate statues’

Key Excerpt: “On the podcast, Kennedy said he ‘wouldn’t have done that’ and would have allowed the Confederate monuments to stay.” 

Associated Press: Kennedy condemns the removal of Confederate monuments

Key Excerpt: “‘We need to be able to be sophisticated enough to live with, you know, our ancestors who didn’t agree with us on everything and who did things that are now regarded as immoral or wrong, because they, you know, maybe they had other qualities,’ Kennedy said.” 

NBC News: RFK Jr. says he opposes removing Confederate statues

Key Excerpt: “Speaking Friday on the ‘Timcast IRL’ podcast, Kennedy described a ‘visceral reaction to this destroying history.’

‘I don’t like it,’  he told conservative podcaster Tim Pool. ‘I think we should celebrate who we are. And that, you know, we should celebrate the good qualities of everybody.’

Kennedy also pointed to ‘heroes in the Confederacy who didn’t have slaves,’ but he later praised Robert E. Lee, a slave owner, suggesting Lee, the top Confederate general, demonstrated ‘extraordinary qualities of leadership’  that warranted recognition.” 

Fox News: RFK Jr. slams Democrats for toppling Confederate statues: ‘Destroying history’

Key Excerpt: “‘I don’t think it’s a good, healthy thing for any culture to erase its history,’  Kennedy said. ‘I have a visceral reaction against, against the attacks on those statues.’ […]

‘I just have a visceral reaction against destroying history. I don’t like it. I think we should celebrate who we are,’ Kennedy said. ‘We should celebrate the good qualities of everybody…If we want to find people who are completely virtuous on every issue throughout history, we would erase all of history.’”