Kennedy, 70 years old, a longtime Democrat and member of the renowned Kennedy family, explained that the principles driving his departure from the Democratic Party had led him to support Trump.
In a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Kennedy announced his intention to remove his name from the ballot in 10 key battleground states, including Arizona and Pennsylvania, to avoid potentially splitting votes. However, he will not be able to withdraw from swing states such as Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, according to election officials.
At the rally in Glendale, Trump praised Kennedy as phenomenal and brilliant, and promised to release all remaining documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy’s support for Trump has drawn significant criticism from his family. Kerry Kennedy, his sister, denounced the endorsement as a “betrayal” of their family values.
Kennedy’s campaign, which had initially garnered support in the double digits, has struggled recently, with his polling numbers dropping to single digits following the rise of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
He cited media control and efforts by his former party to undermine his campaign as reasons for suspending his run, claiming that the Democratic Party had shifted away from its core values to become a party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, big money.
Despite his withdrawal, Kennedy has continued to advocate for Trump’s campaign, citing Trump’s promise to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine as a key reason for his support. Kennedy had previously been associated with the anti-vaccine movement through his leadership of the Children’s Health Defense organization.
The news of Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump has been met with mixed reactions. Democratic National Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill dismissed the endorsement, stating that Trump is inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate.
Kennedy’s campaign has also been marked by personal controversies, including a peculiar anecdote about disposing of a dead bear cub and revelations of past health issues. Speculation has arisen that Kennedy’s endorsement might be part of a strategy to secure a role in a potential Trump administration, a notion Trump himself has hinted at being open to, with Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., suggesting Kennedy could be suited for a significant federal role.
Merrill Matthews, a resident scholar at the conservative Institute for Policy Innovation, commented that Kennedy’s decision highlights the challenges within the two-party system in the U.S., noting how difficult it is for new ideas and fresh voices to break through.