One candidate departs Mar-a-Lago to collect a Cybertruck emblazoned with his own image, while the other nourishes local ravens during his meditative retreats. One has a background steeped in luxury real estate and reality TV, while the other has dedicated his career to pro bono environmental law and consumer safety. One emerged as a political outsider, backed by a successful entrepreneurial father, while the other, a scion of a political dynasty, has navigated the trauma of family assassinations.
The former president and three-time major-party nominee contrasts starkly with the political newcomer who ran as an independent after being ousted from his party’s primaries. Their communication styles are as disparate: one is known for his bold, unfiltered rhetoric, while the other speaks with measured and analytical precision.
Despite their stark differences in personal style and background—Donald Trump and Robert Kennedy Jr.—they align on several key policy issues. Their shared focus on policy over personality is evident in their campaigns.
Kennedy’s recent speech in Phoenix highlighted their mutual priorities, including overhauling federal regulations, eliminating harmful substances from food and water, addressing the $35 trillion national debt, managing inflation, and reducing military spending. Kennedy emphasized the three critical issues of censorship, war, and chronic disease—topics absent from the Democratic National Convention, underscoring his split from the party.
Kennedy has suspended his campaign and withdrawn from ballots in major swing states, urging his supporters to back Trump. This alliance, dubbed the “unity party,” merges the nationalist conservative and progressive libertarian factions, bypassing traditional Republican neoconservatives and contrasting with the Democratic blend of neoliberal and neo-progressive elements.
Vice President Kamala Harris has recently proposed policies such as food price controls, $25,000 aid for first-time homebuyers, and an expanded child tax credit, but without detailed explanations or public scrutiny. Her continued focus on Trump’s and his running mate’s personal traits indicates a persistent commitment to personality politics.
Ironically, Trump and Kennedy’s shared policy goals have led to them being vilified by mainstream media and the Democratic Party. Their alliance might offer a way out of the polarized political climate and towards addressing the pressing issues facing the nation.