Independent White House candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump, joining him on stage at a rally in Arizona. Kennedy, 70, a lifelong Democrat and member of the renowned Kennedy family, explained that the same principles that led him to leave the Democratic Party now compel him to support Trump.
At a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Kennedy announced plans to remove his name from the ballot in 10 battleground states. Later, at a rally in Glendale, Trump praised Kennedy as "phenomenal" and "brilliant" while welcoming him on stage. Meanwhile, Democratic rival Kamala Harris expressed her intention to "earn" the support of Kennedy's followers.
Kennedy’s campaign had been struggling, with his poll numbers dropping from double digits as funds and media coverage dwindled. The son of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Kennedy hails from one of the most iconic families in Democratic politics.
Before welcoming Kennedy to the stage, Trump pledged to release all remaining documents related to the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy if elected. Kennedy’s decision to back Trump has sparked outrage within his family, with his sister, Kerry Kennedy, calling it a "betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear."
Kennedy acknowledged the personal difficulties caused by his decision, citing the impact on his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and their children. Despite this, he expressed certainty that endorsing Trump is what he is meant to do, providing him with "internal peace" amidst the controversy.
Kennedy told reporters that Trump’s promise to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine was a key factor in his decision to endorse the former president. While acknowledging significant differences on other issues, Kennedy emphasized their alignment on key matters.
He plans to withdraw his name from 10 states where his presence might hurt Trump’s chances but noted that it was too late to pull out from swing states like Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Kennedy launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat, but left the party, criticizing it for becoming "the party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, big money."
Blaming "media control" and efforts by his former party to thwart his campaign, Kennedy concluded that he no longer sees a realistic path to victory. His polling numbers, which once hovered around 14% to 16%, have plummeted since Harris secured the Democratic nomination.
Kennedy had offered to collaborate with Harris in her bid for the White House, but Democrats appeared unfazed by his endorsement of Trump. Mary Beth Cahill, a senior adviser to the Democratic National Committee, dismissed Kennedy's endorsement as "the baggage of a failed fringe candidate."
Kennedy’s campaign became closely associated with the anti-vaccine movement, and in recent weeks, he recounted an incident where he dumped a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park as a joke. Earlier, it was revealed that he had suffered from a brain parasite years ago that caused severe memory loss.
Rumors had circulated that Kennedy offered to endorse Trump in exchange for a role in his administration. Trump indicated that he would be open to the idea, while his son, Donald Trump Jr., suggested Kennedy would be suitable to "blow up" a federal department. The decision underscores the challenges of introducing new ideas and fresh candidates into the U.S. political system.
Post a Comment