Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unlikely to participate in the first 2024 U.S. presidential debate after missing CNN’s criteria deadline.
CNN, part of Warner Bros Discovery, is hosting the debate on June 27.
According to CNN, only President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump met the requirements by the 12 a.m. ET Thursday deadline.
“Presidents Biden and Trump do not want me on the debate stage and CNN illegally agreed to their demand,” Kennedy said.
“My exclusion by Presidents Biden and Trump from the debate is undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly.”
The criteria for participation included being on enough state ballots to potentially win the presidency and having at least 15% voter support in four separate national polls.
Kennedy only reached 15% in three accepted polls and, according to CNN, qualified for the ballot in six states, insufficient to win the presidency.
Kennedy argued that the TV network’s standards were unfairly applied to keep him off the stage with candidates who preferred a one-on-one race.
His campaign requested the Federal Election Commission to intervene by Thursday to prevent CNN, Biden, and Trump from holding the debate unless changes were made. The FEC declined to comment.
“If the debate goes forward without Mr. Kennedy, the Kennedy campaign intends to pursue this issue for as long as it takes to obtain justice against these illegal acts,” the campaign stated on Thursday.
CNN reported that Trump will get the final word in the debate after a coin flip determined podium placement and the order of closing statements.
Biden’s campaign chose the right podium position, placing the Democratic president on the right side of television viewers’ screens, while his Republican rival will be on the left.