The unexpected endorsement by Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, has caused a stir on social media. Dorsey expressed his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and long-shot Democratic nominee for the 2024 US presidential race. This move by Dorsey, who previously endorsed Elon Musk as the ideal leader for Twitter, has left many puzzled.
The endorsement by Jack Dorsey came in the form of a tweet sharing a video of Kennedy discussing his potential to defeat both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis in the 2024 election. Dorsey’s comment, “He can and he will,” sparked confusion and speculation among Twitter users.
This endorsement is particularly surprising considering Dorsey’s recent disillusionment with the direction of Twitter since its acquisition by Elon Musk for $44 billion. Musk’s controversial decisions, such as reinstating far-right figures on the platform, led Dorsey to publicly express his regret over the purchase and his belief that Musk was not the right person to lead the company.
Kennedy’s connection with Musk came about when the candidate complained about Instagram denying his campaign the opportunity to create an account. Musk, an advocate of free speech, extended an invitation to Kennedy after the latter argued that silencing a major political candidate was undemocratic.
It is worth noting that Kennedy’s personal Instagram account was previously suspended for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines, along with his anti-vaccine nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense. However, Meta (formerly Facebook) recently announced the restoration of Kennedy’s personal Instagram account due to his status as a presidential candidate, allowing his campaign to create an account as well.
Overall, Dorsey’s endorsement of Kennedy has raised eyebrows and fueled discussions about the role of social media in politics, especially in relation to misinformation and public health.