No other president has done what Trump is doing.
Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed admiration for former President Donald Trump’s initiative to self-fund his transition team, highlighting that this approach is unprecedented.
“Typically, the transition team isn’t established until November 6, as the General Accounting Office covers the associated expenses. However, Trump declared, ‘I’m not going to do it this way this time. I’m starting my own transition team three months ahead of schedule,’ and he secured funding from private donors,” Kennedy remarked during a recent campaign event featuring Trump and J.D. Vance.
Kennedy’s remarks followed Trump’s appearance on the popular Joe Rogan podcast, where the former president reflected on mistakes from his initial presidential campaign in 2016, particularly his decisions regarding team appointments that he later regretted. This time, Trump aims to privately finance his transition early, with the hope of learning from past experiences and being prepared if he wins the election.
Recently, Trump has faced backlash stemming from comments made by former administration officials. For instance, former Chief of Staff John Kelly described Trump in a New York Times interview as meeting the definition of fascism and made controversial comparisons to Adolf Hitler, remarks that Trump has denied and dismissed, labeling Kelly a “lowlife.”
In August, Trump announced that Kennedy, who had previously withdrawn from his independent presidential run to endorse him, would join his transition team, alongside former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who has also shown support for Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Kennedy emphasized the diverse nature of Trump’s transition team, suggesting that this variety of support would be advantageous if Trump were to win. “The team includes individuals with differing ideologies who will be vital in championing our vision during the transition. What’s notable is that there are no corporate lobbyists on this team, which is usually dominated by them. This sets it apart and gives me great optimism that this administration could be different from any we’ve seen before,” Kennedy stated.
