Ultra-Wealthy Donor Timothy Mellon Gives $5 Million to Super PACs Supporting RFK Jr. and Trump
Ultra-wealthy donor Timothy Mellon has been making headlines for his unusual donations strategy, giving $5 million donations that alternate between super PACs supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump over the course of nine months. But who exactly is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Independent candidate running for president?
Kennedy is the third-party presidential candidate running against Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Despite his Democratic family background, Kennedy has been seen as a potential spoiler in the 2024 presidential race, drawing support from both sides of the political spectrum. Democrats have raised concerns about Kennedy’s alignment with Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, highlighting his positions on issues like defunding the war in Ukraine and sealing the border.
Kennedy’s platform includes a mix of policies that appeal to both the left and the right, such as reinvesting money from the war in Ukraine into public child care and advocating to “seal the border” as a humanitarian crisis. Prior to his presidential run, Kennedy was known for his advocacy against vaccinations, including the coronavirus vaccine, aligning him more closely with Republicans on this issue.
Despite trailing behind Biden and Trump in polls, Kennedy has garnered around 10% support among eligible voters. Some polls suggest that Kennedy could potentially take votes away from both major party candidates, leading to concerns about his role as a spoiler in the race. Democrats have criticized Kennedy’s campaign and his shared donor with Trump, suggesting that there may be ideological overlap between the two candidates.
Mellon, the donor behind the dual donations to Kennedy and Trump, is known for his privacy and his investments in transport-related companies. His support for both candidates has raised eyebrows, with experts noting that backing two candidates simultaneously is unusual. As the race heats up, the question remains whether Kennedy’s unique appeal as a spoiler candidate will continue to attract big money donors like Mellon.
In a hyper-competitive political landscape, where elections are decided by small margins, the influence of big money in politics has become a growing concern. Calls for stricter enforcement of super PAC rules and new regulations on their operations have been raised as the role of wealthy donors like Mellon in shaping the outcome of elections comes under scrutiny. As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, the impact of donors like Mellon and the strategies of candidates like Kennedy will be closely watched.