Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that he is suspending his presidential campaign and will now support former President Donald Trump. This declaration was made during an event in Phoenix, Arizona, where he urged voters in both red and blue states to consider him but indicated he would withdraw from the ballot in crucial battleground states to avoid being a “spoiler.”
“I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign,” Kennedy stated. “I am simply suspending it and not ending it.”
Following his speech, Kennedy joined Trump on stage at a rally in Glendale, Arizona. Trump announced plans to set up an independent commission to investigate assassination attempts and to release remaining documents related to President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination.
Kennedy, who ran as an independent, explained the reasons behind his decision to support Trump, emphasizing his desire to address the issue of chronic illness in children. Just before Kennedy took the stage, his campaign filed a court document endorsing Trump in Pennsylvania.
In Las Vegas, Trump welcomed Kennedy’s endorsement, stating, “We just had a very nice endorsement from RFK Jr., Bobby. That’s big. He’s a great guy, respected by everybody.”
The Democratic National Committee responded by expressing relief at Kennedy’s departure. DNC adviser Mary Beth Cahill remarked that as more voters learned about Kennedy, their support for him waned. “Donald Trump isn’t earning an endorsement that’s going to help build support; he’s inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate,” she said.
Kennedy, visibly emotional during his speech, highlighted his focus on chronic disease, stating that he aimed to align with a candidate who would prioritize this issue. “If President Trump is elected and honors his word, the vast burden of chronic disease that now demoralizes and bankrupts the country will disappear,” he affirmed.
Kennedy’s decision has raised concerns among some of his inner circle, especially given Trump’s history and the timing of the endorsement as polls indicated Trump’s decreasing favorability. However, a source noted that there was a mutual understanding regarding the importance of addressing chronic disease.
With his campaign initially launched as a challenge to President Biden within the Democratic Party in April 2023, Kennedy later transitioned to running as an independent, selecting Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. His views on vaccines and COVID-19 had alienated him from many Democrats, leading to increased criticism from family members, including a group endorsement of Biden from 15 relatives.
On Friday, five of Kennedy’s siblings expressed their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, stating, “Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.”