Today, independent candidates Robert F. Kennedy, son announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
“I am not terminating my campaign, I am just pausing it, not ending it,” Kennedy said. “My name will remain on the ballot in most states.”
But Kennedy said after “deep prayer,” he decided to endorse former President Donald Trump and join his campaign. He said his deep concern about chronic illness and Trump’s promise to address those issues if elected ultimately shaped his decision.
“I may only have another 10 years to be effective,” Kennedy said. “If President Trump is elected and keeps his promise, the enormous burden of chronic disease that is weighing down and bankrupting our country will disappear.”
Before endorsing Trump, Kennedy noted that he could still win in an unusual election, but he would remove his name from the ballot in 10 states where his candidacy could be a spoiler. “If you live in a blue state, you can vote for me,” he said. “I encourage you to vote for me.”
Kennedy also used his speech to accuse the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of waging legal warfare against himself and former President Donald Trump, comparing Biden and the organization to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. He took aim at Harris for not giving unscripted interviews to the press, while he and Trump did.
“Are we still the model for democracy in this country or have we turned it into a joke?” he asked. Kennedy noted that he was forced to drop out of the race when it became clear that he would “give the Democrats the election.”
Signs that Kennedy and Trump were moving closer to a political alliance had been emerging for months. In July, Kennedy went to the Republican National Convention, where a video Trump and Kennedy appeared to discuss a possible endorsement. Trump campaign donor Timothy Mellon also gave Kennedy $25 million. Earlier this week, Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahanhinted during a podcast appearance that he can give up and support the former president.
On Thursday posted on XShanahan said Democrats were “very frightened by the idea of our movement working with Donald Trump.”
“MAGA Republicans have elevated RFK Jr.’s fake candidacy into a tool to deceive voters and hurt Democrats, and RFK Jr.’s departure is an admission that their gambit has failed,” DNC spokesman Ramsey Reid said in a statement.
Kennedy’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Kennedy launched his campaign as a Democrat in April 2023 and then as an independent. October 2023and it seems to be a candidate with the potential to disrupt someone who could meaningfully influence the outcome of an election. Throughout his campaign, Kennedy seemed to have mastered the art of doing anything digital space has been provided to him. He has appeared on podcasts and in TikTok Livesand invited crypto sponsors. When not invited to debate alongside Trump and President Joe Biden, Kennedy hosted a parallel debate, streamed online and on X, watched by more than 9 million people.
