Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that he is suspending his presidential campaign and will support former President Donald Trump. This declaration took place at an event in Phoenix, Arizona, where he urged voters across the political spectrum to back him but indicated he would withdraw from the ballot in competitive states to avoid being a “spoiler.”
Kennedy clarified, “I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign. I am simply suspending it and not ending it.” Shortly after his announcement, he appeared alongside Trump at a rally in Glendale, Arizona.
Trump, while campaigning in Nevada at the time, expressed his gratitude for Kennedy’s endorsement, highlighting the significance of the support. He also promised to establish an independent commission to investigate assassination attempts, including releasing documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
In his speech, Kennedy highlighted his motivation for joining the race, departing from the Democratic Party, and now endorsing Trump. His campaign later filed a court document in Pennsylvania confirming his support for Trump.
The Democratic National Committee responded to Kennedy’s announcement, expressing relief and suggesting that backers were distancing themselves as they learned more about him. DNC senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill remarked, “Donald Trump isn’t earning an endorsement that’s going to help build support; he’s inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate.”
Kennedy, speaking emotionally in Phoenix, revealed that his choice was driven by his commitment to addressing chronic illness in children. He stated that he saw aligning with Trump as the best path forward, given the potential for Trump to address what he views as a national health crisis.
Despite concerns within his inner circle about endorsing Trump, some believed there was a genuine connection between the two regarding the issue of chronic disease. Kennedy delivered his speech in a downtown Phoenix hotel, with a gathering of supporters and staff who had come on short notice.
Kennedy’s presidential campaign began in April 2023 as a Democratic challenge to President Joe Biden, but he later shifted to run as an independent, selecting Silicon Valley lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. His skeptical views on vaccines and COVID-19 had garnered criticism from both Democrats and his own family members, leading to public endorsements for Biden from several relatives.
On the same day as Kennedy’s endorsement, five of his siblings issued a statement declaring their support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, expressing disappointment with their brother’s choice, which they believe contradicts the values upheld by their family.