Independent White House candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump. Kennedy, a longtime Democrat and a prominent member of the Kennedy political dynasty, made this announcement at a rally in Arizona, standing beside Trump on stage. He stated that the same principles that drove him away from the Democratic Party now compel him to support Trump.
At a press conference in Phoenix on Friday, Kennedy, 70, revealed plans to remove his name from the ballot in ten crucial battleground states. Before bringing Kennedy to the stage, Trump promised to release all remaining documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy if he is elected. At the rally in Glendale later, Trump lauded Kennedy as “phenomenal” and “brilliant.”
Democratic rival Kamala Harris, meanwhile, responded to Kennedy’s move by stating her intention to “earn” the support of his voters. As the November election approaches, Kennedy’s polling numbers have declined sharply from their earlier double-digit highs, largely due to dwindling funds and reduced national media coverage.
Kennedy, the son of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, belongs to one of the most storied families in Democratic politics. His decision to back a Republican candidate for the White House has provoked outrage among his relatives. Earlier this year, they had criticized his use of the family name in a Super Bowl advertisement. His sister, Kerry Kennedy, described his endorsement of Trump as a “betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear,” adding, “It is a sad ending to a sad story.”
Addressing the personal difficulties arising from his decision, Kennedy stated, “This decision is agonising for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends.” However, he also expressed a sense of clarity and peace, saying, “I have the certainty that this is what I’m meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms.” His wife, Cheryl Hines, an actress known for her role in HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” voiced her support for his decision to suspend his campaign in a post on X (formerly Twitter), though she did not comment on his endorsement of Trump.
Kennedy emphasized that Trump’s commitment to ending the war in Ukraine through negotiations with Russia was a major factor in his decision to support Trump’s campaign, stating, “Trump’s insistence he could end the war in Ukraine by negotiating with Russia alone would justify my support for his campaign.” He acknowledged that they still have “very serious differences” on many issues but are aligned on key matters.
Kennedy has already begun removing his name from the ballots in key battleground states like Arizona and Pennsylvania. However, election officials indicated that it is too late for him to withdraw from swing states such as Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Kennedy initially launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat, citing the legacy of his father and uncle as “champions of the Constitution.” However, he claimed he left the party because it had transformed into one of “war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, big money.”
Kennedy cited “media control” and efforts by the Democratic Party to thwart his campaign as reasons for suspending his run. “In my heart, I no longer believe I have a realistic path to victory in the face of relentless and systematic censorship,” he explained. At his peak, Kennedy polled between 14% and 16% but has since seen his support diminish to single digits, particularly after Kamala Harris secured the Democratic nomination.
Despite Kennedy’s offer to collaborate with Harris on her presidential bid, Democrats appeared largely unconcerned by his withdrawal and subsequent endorsement of Trump. Mary Beth Cahill, a senior adviser for the Democratic National Committee, commented, “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 has been closely associated with the anti-vaccine movement, stemming from his leadership role in the Children’s Health Defense organization, formerly the World Mercury Project. His controversial actions, such as recounting a 2014 incident where he dumped a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park as a joke, have drawn significant public and media attention. Additionally, earlier in his campaign, it was revealed that Kennedy had suffered from a brain parasite over a decade ago, which led to severe memory loss and brain fog.
Rumors have swirled in recent days that Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump could be an attempt to secure a position in a potential future Trump administration. While Trump told CNN he would be “certainly open” to the idea, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., suggested Kennedy might be suited to “blow up” a federal department. This speculation reflects broader concerns about the two-party system in the U.S. and the challenges new ideas and candidates face in breaking through the political process. As Merrill Matthews, a resident scholar with the conservative Institute for Policy Innovation, noted to the BBC, Kennedy’s decision underscores “how difficult it is to get new ideas and fresh people into the process.”
Kennedy’s withdrawal and endorsement of Trump mark a significant turn in the 2024 presidential race, reshaping the dynamics just months before Americans head to the polls.