US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a Consensus 2024 press conference in Austin, Texas, on Thursday. Some of his comments are below:
Donald Trump's conviction
“I'm going to talk about broader issues. I want to focus on economic issues and health issues. That's what my campaign is about. I'm not going to get dragged into the dirty pile. I'm not looking at anything. I've been very disciplined not to talk about the lawsuits.” [Joe] “Biden or Trump?”
A look at President Trump's new pro-crypto stance
“I'm happy about it. I think this is a good thing for our country. The cryptocurrency initiative is a commitment to freedom and transparency. I don't question whether it was a political decision. I'm happy that he did it and I hope President Biden does too.”
The biggest problem facing US cryptocurrency regulation
“I believe in freedom of exchange. We need sovereignty over our wallets, freedom of exchange, and a transparent currency. We need to make sure America remains the center of blockchain technology. I will make sure cryptocurrency is regulated in a way that protects consumers from fraudulent schemes. I have bought 21 Bitcoin since I started this campaign, and I have also bought three for each of my children.”
What does the future hold for cryptocurrency enthusiasts?
“My goal if elected president would be to make crypto a transactional currency. To allow people to have the freedom to trade. To allow people to choose whether or not they want to buy it. I think crypto should be treated as a currency. It shouldn't be taxed as a capital gain. I think there are problems with that approach. I think crypto should be a currency that's used to buy apples, lunch, coffee, etc., and I think people should be able to do that.”
What prompted me to run for president?
“When I was younger, I thought about getting involved in politics. I avoided it for 20 years. When what happened with COVID, when the government shut down the economy, I thought it was wrong. They closed all the churches, they attacked the Fifth Amendment, they shut down businesses without due process… They canceled jury trials, they violated prohibitions. And I saw an attack on the Constitution and censorship, not just on me, but on so many people who were trying to speak out. When I saw that, it seemed so unethical to my country. My party and the traditional values of my country were all disappearing, and I felt I had a unique role to play in showing people what America should be like.”
