Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decided to suspend his independent bid for the U.S. presidency and will instead support Donald Trump's campaign. Kennedy, 70, a lifelong Democrat and member of the Kennedy political dynasty, stated that the principles that led him to leave the Democratic Party now compel him to "throw [his] support to President Trump."
During a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, Kennedy emphasized that he is not withdrawing entirely but plans to remove his name from the ballot in 10 key battleground states. Later, Trump praised Kennedy as "phenomenal" and "brilliant" when welcoming him on stage at a rally in Glendale, Arizona. Meanwhile, Democratic rival Kamala Harris expressed her intention to "earn" the support of Kennedy voters.
As the November election approaches, Kennedy's polling numbers have dropped from double digits to single digits due to dwindling funds and reduced national coverage. The son of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, he comes from one of the most prominent families in Democratic politics. His decision to back a Republican for the White House has sparked outrage among his relatives, who previously criticized his use of the family name in a Super Bowl ad earlier this year.
Kennedy's sister, Kerry Kennedy, condemned his support for Trump, calling it a "betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear." She described his decision as a "sad ending to a sad story."
Kennedy acknowledged that this decision has been difficult, especially for his wife, children, and friends, but he remains convinced that it is the right path. "I have the certainty that this is what I’m meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms," he said. His wife, Cheryl Hines, star of the HBO comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm," expressed her deep respect for his decision to suspend his campaign but did not comment on his endorsement of Trump.
Kennedy cited Trump's promise to negotiate with Russia to end the war in Ukraine as a key reason for his endorsement, stating that it "alone would justify my support for his campaign." He acknowledged that while he and Trump have significant differences on various issues, they are aligned on other critical matters.
Kennedy plans to remove his name from the ballot in 10 states where his presence could undermine Trump's campaign. He has already withdrawn from the battleground states of Arizona and Pennsylvania but is unable to do so in swing states like Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, according to election officials.
Kennedy launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat, the party of his father and uncle, whom he described as "champions of the Constitution." However, he left the party, accusing it of becoming "the party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, [and] big money." He attributed his decision to suspend his campaign to "media control" and the Democratic Party's efforts to thwart his candidacy, stating, "In my heart, I no longer believe I have a realistic path to victory in the face of relentless and systematic censorship."
Kennedy once polled between 14% and 16% at his peak popularity, but his ratings have since fallen to single digits, particularly after Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. In his press conference, he mentioned that he had offered to work with Harris on her White House bid. However, Democrats appeared unfazed by his announcement.
Mary Beth Cahill, a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee, dismissed Kennedy's endorsement, saying, "Donald Trump isn't earning an endorsement that's going to help build support; he's inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance."
Kennedy's campaign had become closely associated with the anti-vaccine movement, and he frequently highlighted his leadership of the Children's Health Defense organization. In recent weeks, Kennedy recounted a controversial incident from 2014 when he dumped a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park as a joke. Additionally, it was revealed earlier in his campaign that he had suffered from a brain parasite over a decade ago, causing severe memory loss and brain fog.
Kennedy's announcement followed days of speculation that he might endorse Trump in exchange for a role in a potential future administration. Trump indicated to CNN earlier this week that he would be "certainly open" to offering Kennedy a position, while Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., suggested that Kennedy would be well-suited to "blow up" a federal department.
Merrill Matthews, a scholar with the conservative Institute for Policy Innovation, told the BBC that Kennedy's decision underscores the challenges of the U.S. two-party system and "how difficult it is to get new ideas and fresh people into the process."
