RFK Jr Lauds Trump as 'Empath' for Highlighting War Casualties on Both Sides
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has made a striking declaration that President Donald Trump's willingness to discuss casualties among both Ukrainians and Russians in the ongoing war demonstrates he is "an empath." During a Saturday interview at the Conservative Political Action Summit in Texas, Kennedy expressed a profound shift in his perception of the former president.
"President Trump is exactly the opposite of everything that I believed him to be," Kennedy told the CPAC audience. "And I basically drank the Kool-Aid that he was this bombastic narcissist who didn't read books, was ill-informed."
Trump's Focus on Human Cost Praised by Kennedy
The HHS secretary emphasized that Trump consistently acknowledges the human toll of the conflict, which has now ground on for over four years since Vladimir Putin's invasion in February 2022. "You'll see that every time he talks about the Ukraine war, he talks about the casualties on both sides," Kennedy said. "You will not hear any Democrat ever talk about that. And he talks about the Russian kids who are dying. He gets the reports every week, and they make a huge impression on him about the death rate."
According to recent estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the war has led to approximately 325,000 Russian and 140,000 Ukrainian deaths. Kennedy highlighted this grim reality, stating, "A thousand kids a day are dying. He understands that these are people's children."
Trump's Diplomatic Efforts and Middle East Expertise
Since taking office, Trump has attempted to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, having once vowed to end it within 24 hours during his campaign. He has hosted diplomatic summits with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though these efforts have so far proven unsuccessful.
Kennedy also commended Trump's handling of the escalating war in Iran, praising his apparent deep knowledge of the region. "One time, he grabbed a placemat, turned it over, took a Sharpie, and drew a perfect map of the Middle East," Kennedy claimed. "Then he marked the troop strength of every country along each border on that map. It challenged a lot of the assumptions I had been told about him."
Escalating Conflict in Iran and Domestic Opposition
The Iran war has now stretched into its second month, showing no signs of abating. The U.S. has struck more than 15,000 targets in Iran, according to the Pentagon, with Trump promising to "keep bombing our little hearts out" if a peace deal cannot be reached with Iranian leaders, whom he has described as "evil."
Iran has retaliated by bombarding nearby nations, including Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, with missiles and drones. To date, over 1,500 Iranians have died, including at least 175 killed in a strike on a girls' school near the Strait of Hormuz, while 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
Recent developments indicate the U.S. may be preparing for a protracted campaign, with U.S. Central Command announcing on Saturday that about 3,500 Marines and sailors had arrived in the region. However, multiple polls show that the majority of Americans do not support the war. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 59% of respondents believe the U.S. made the wrong decision by using military force in Iran, while a Reuters survey from March 19 indicated that 65% of Americans think Trump will launch a ground war in Iran, with only 7% supporting such a move.
