Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the suspension of his independent campaign for the U.S. presidency on Friday and endorsed former President Donald Trump, a late-stage development in the election that could provide Trump with a boost from Kennedy’s supporters.
Kennedy later appeared onstage with Trump at a rally in Arizona, where the crowd welcomed him with enthusiastic chants of “Bobby!”
@ChristianM_74 (Christian Movick) “Donald Trump on Robert Kennedy Jr. at Arizona rally: “Bobby and I will fight together to defeat the corrupt political establishment and return control of this country to the people.” “If [RFK Jr.] were in a regular system, there were a lot of people who maybe liked him the best, but they said we can’t vote (for him). So with all of those votes he was getting… I think he’s gonna have a huge influence on this campaign.” “To all who supported Bobby’s campaign, I very simply ask you join us in building this coalition. It’s a beautiful coalition… the relationship has been so good for so long, I have no doubt that it’s gonna work and work well. But we have to win. We have to take our country away from these people that are going to destroy our country.””
Twitter August 23, 2024 https://x.com/ChristianM_74/status/1827157414333776128
Kennedy revealed that his internal polling indicated his presence in the race would harm Trump’s chances and benefit Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. However, public polls have not clearly shown that Kennedy is significantly influencing support for either major-party candidate.
Kennedy cited several key issues, including free speech, the conflict in Ukraine, and what he referred to as “a war on our children,” as reasons for his decision to withdraw his name from the ballot in key battleground states.
“These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” Kennedy stated during an event in Phoenix.
Kennedy clarified that he was not officially ending his campaign and mentioned that his supporters could still vote for him in most states, where their votes would not significantly affect the outcome. Late this week, Kennedy initiated steps to withdraw his candidacy in Arizona and Pennsylvania, but officials in key battleground states like Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin indicated that it was too late for him to remove his name from the ballot.
Kennedy explained that his decision followed discussions with Trump in recent weeks. He described their partnership as a “unity party,” allowing them to “disagree publicly and privately and seriously.” Kennedy hinted that Trump had offered him a position in his administration if he were to return to the White House, though neither provided specific details.
Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s running mate, suggested this week that Kennedy might join Trump’s administration as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The announcement, which concluded a period of speculation, was accompanied by confusion and contradictions from Kennedy’s campaign team, reflecting the often unconventional nature of his campaign.
Before his speech in Phoenix, Kennedy’s campaign had filed a document in a Pennsylvania court indicating that he would be endorsing Trump. However, a Kennedy spokesperson claimed the filing was an error, and the lawyer responsible for it pledged to correct it. Kennedy then took the stage, criticized the Democratic Party, the media, and political institutions, and expressed his support for Trump. He spoke for nearly 20 minutes before explicitly endorsing Trump.
Kennedy later appeared with Trump at a rally in Glendale, co-hosted by Turning Point Action, where Trump’s campaign had hinted at a “special guest” appearance.
Kennedy received a warm reception, with the crowd erupting in applause as he took the stage to the sounds of the Foo Fighters and a pyrotechnics display. Trump introduced him as “a man who has been an incredible champion for so many of these values that we all share.”
“We are both in this to do what’s right for the country,” Trump said, commending Kennedy for raising “critical issues that have been too long ignored in this country.”
With Kennedy standing beside him, Trump referenced Kennedy’s slain uncle and father, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, saying he believed they were “looking down right now and they are very, very proud.”
Trump also pledged to establish a new independent presidential commission on assassination attempts if he wins the election, which would release all remaining documents related to John F. Kennedy’s assassination. He reiterated his commitment to creating a panel to investigate the rise in chronic health conditions and childhood diseases, including autoimmune disorders, autism, obesity, and infertility, “working with Bobby.”
The unexpected alliance between a member of one of America’s most famous Democratic families and Trump, who has been a polarizing figure in American politics, was once unimaginable. Kennedy had previously criticized Trump for betraying his supporters, while Trump had labeled Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”
On Friday, five of Kennedy’s family members issued a statement condemning his support for Trump, calling it “a sad ending to a sad story” and reaffirming their support for Kamala Harris.
“Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear,” the statement read, which was shared by his sister, Kerry Kennedy, on social media.
Kennedy Jr. admitted that endorsing Trump had strained his relationship with his family. His wife, actor Cheryl Hines, expressed her respect for her husband’s decision to drop out but did not address his endorsement of Trump.
“This decision is agonizing for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends,” Kennedy said. “But I have the certainty that this is what I’m meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms.”
Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon reached out to Kennedy’s supporters, who are “tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward,” and stated that Harris was eager to earn their support.
At Kennedy’s event in Phoenix, 38-year-old Casey Westerman, who had planned to vote for Kennedy but would now support Trump if endorsed by Kennedy, stated, “My decision would really be based on who he thinks is best suited to run this country.”
Westerman, who wore a “Kennedy 2024” trucker hat and had voted for Trump in the last two elections, expressed her trust in Kennedy’s judgment.
Kennedy initially entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but left the party last year to run as an independent. His campaign attracted a significant following, especially among anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics, due to his anti-vaccine stance during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his campaign has since faced financial difficulties and legal challenges.
At a Trump event in Las Vegas, 49-year-old Alida Roberts remarked that Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump highlighted the current state of the Democratic Party.
“It says that he doesn’t trust what’s going on, that it’s not the party he grew up in,” Roberts said.
Roberts, who had voted for Trump twice, expressed relief and excitement over Kennedy’s endorsement, stating that she had been undecided between the two candidates.
Recent polls show Kennedy’s support in the mid-single digits, and it remains uncertain whether he would have garnered even that level of support in a general election.
There is some evidence that Kennedy’s continued candidacy would have harmed Trump more than Harris. According to a July AP-NORC poll, Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to view Kennedy favorably. Additionally, those who had a positive impression of Kennedy were much more likely to also view Trump favorably (52%) than Harris (37%).
A Pivotal Decision in the 2024 Election
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to suspend his campaign and endorse Donald Trump marks a significant moment in the 2024 presidential race. This unexpected alliance, filled with both controversy and speculation, has stirred the political landscape. As the election progresses, the impact of Kennedy’s endorsement on Trump’s campaign and the broader voter base will be closely watched, with its full effects yet to unfold.
