Robert F Kennedy Jr Campaign Suspension: Backs Trump and Withdraws from Presidential Race

Independent White House candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has officially suspended his presidential campaign and publicly endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump. This dramatic turn of events unfolded during a rally in Arizona, where Kennedy, after withdrawing from the race, joined Trump on stage. At 70 years old, Kennedy, who had long been associated with the Democratic Party and the prominent Kennedy family, stated that his decision to leave the party now leads him to support Trump.

During a press conference held in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, Kennedy announced his intention to remove his name from the ballot in ten key battleground states. Trump praised Kennedy, calling him "phenomenal" and "brilliant," as he welcomed him to the stage during the rally in Glendale. In response, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris expressed her intention to "earn" the support of Kennedy's former voters.

As the November election approaches, Kennedy's polling numbers have dropped from a previous high of double figures, due to diminishing funds and national media coverage. Kennedy, son of US Senator Robert F Kennedy and nephew of President John F Kennedy, comes from one of the most iconic families in Democratic politics.

Before Kennedy's appearance at the rally, Trump promised to release all remaining documents related to the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, should he be elected. Kennedy's decision to endorse a Republican has provoked strong reactions from his relatives. Kerry Kennedy, his sister, condemned the move as a "betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear," calling it a "sad ending to a sad story."

Kennedy reflected on his decision, stating, "This decision is agonizing for me due to the difficulties it causes my wife, children, and friends. However, I am confident that this is the right course of action for me, and that certainty provides me with internal peace amidst the turmoil."

Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines, known for her role in HBO’s comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, expressed deep respect for her husband’s decision to suspend his campaign, though she refrained from commenting on his endorsement of Trump.

Kennedy explained that Trump's commitment to negotiating with Russia to end the war in Ukraine was a key factor in his support for Trump. He noted, "There are still many issues on which we differ significantly, but we are aligned on other critical matters."

Kennedy has withdrawn from the battleground states of Arizona and Pennsylvania, though it is too late for him to exit from Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, according to election officials. He initially launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat but departed due to dissatisfaction with the party's direction, citing issues like "war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, and big money."

Kennedy’s campaign, which once hovered around 14% to 16% in popularity, has seen a decline to single digits following Kamala Harris’s nomination as the Democratic candidate. Despite this, Kennedy offered to collaborate with Harris in her presidential bid.

Democrats have reacted with indifference to Kennedy's announcement. Mary Beth Cahill, a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee, stated, "Donald Trump isn't gaining significant support from this endorsement; he’s inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance."

Kennedy’s campaign was closely linked with the anti-vaccine movement through his leadership of the Children's Health Defense organization. Recent revelations include a story about Kennedy’s humorous act of disposing of a dead bear cub in Central Park in 2014, and a past struggle with a brain parasite causing memory loss.

Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump has sparked speculation that he might be seeking a role in Trump’s administration. Trump has indicated openness to this possibility, with suggestions that Kennedy could have a significant role in a future administration.

Merrill Matthews, a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation, commented that Kennedy’s decision underscores the challenges of the US two-party system and the difficulty of introducing new ideas and fresh perspectives into the political process.