Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the renowned Kennedy political family, suspended his unlikely presidential bid on Friday and threw his support behind Donald Trump, adding an unexpected twist to the ongoing White House race.
At a press conference in Arizona, Kennedy, 70, admitted that his campaign had no realistic path to victory, as he had been polling in the low single digits. He expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s decision to select Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee without a primary contest and aired various grievances against the party, ultimately declaring his endorsement of Trump.
Kennedy’s campaign faced numerous challenges, including his inability to secure a spot on the ballot in more than half of the U.S. states. His candidacy was marked by unusual claims, such as his assertion of having a parasitic brain worm, and strange incidents like reportedly dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park. Additionally, most of his famous family members opposed his campaign.
In a joint statement, five of Kennedy’s siblings criticized his decision to back Trump, calling it a betrayal of their family’s core values and endorsing Harris instead. They expressed sadness over what they viewed as a disappointing conclusion to Kennedy’s political journey.
Kennedy’s decision came a day after Harris delivered a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where she accepted the party’s nomination and began the final push toward the November 5 election.
The impact of Kennedy’s withdrawal on the presidential race remains uncertain, with analysts debating how much of his support might shift to Trump or Harris. In a close contest, even a small number of votes in key swing states could influence the outcome.
At a Trump rally in Glendale, several speakers, including Charlie Kirk and Kari Lake, emphasized the inclusiveness of the MAGA movement, welcoming disaffected Democrats. Trump himself invited Kennedy on stage, where they discussed working together on issues such as removing chemicals from food. Trump praised Kennedy and announced the formation of an “independent presidential commission on assassination attempts,” focusing on the release of remaining documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Kennedy’s uncle.
Both Harris and Trump are closely matched in the polls ahead of their September 10 debate in Philadelphia. Harris, who has gained momentum since joining the Democratic ticket, has out-fundraised Trump and is focusing her campaign on unity and patriotism. Trump, on the other hand, has continued to rally his base with warnings about crime and a declining America.
While Democrats have previously portrayed Trump as a demagogue, they are now using humor to diminish his image, with Harris labeling him as an “unserious” person.
