On August 23, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the suspension of his campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election.
Kennedy, who initially launched his campaign as a Democrat before switching to an independent run, cited censorship and media control as key factors in his decision to withdraw.
“In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control,” Kennedy stated during a speech in Phoenix, Arizona.
He explained that he could no longer, in good conscience, ask his staff, volunteers, and donors to continue their efforts when a path to the White House seemed unattainable.
Kennedy’s decision to support Trump comes after weeks of speculation, with his running mate hinting at the possibility of an endorsement.
Kennedy’s campaign, facing declining poll numbers and financial challenges, decided it was best to withdraw from battleground state ballots to avoid being a spoiler.
Kennedy explained that while his name would remain on ballots in non-battleground states, he urged voters in crucial states to support Trump. He made it clear that his alignment with Trump on several key issues, such as ending “forever wars,” tackling childhood epidemics, securing the border, and protecting free speech, motivated his endorsement.
Trump welcomed Kennedy on stage during a rally in Glendale, Arizona, where Kennedy expressed his surprise at finding common ground with the former president. Trump, in turn, praised Kennedy as a “great guy” and respected by everyone.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) reacted to Kennedy’s decision with criticism, labeling Trump’s endorsement as an inheritance of a “failed fringe candidate.”
The Harris campaign also sought to attract Kennedy’s supporters, highlighting a shared commitment to rights, public safety, and freedom.
In addition to endorsing Trump, Kennedy highlighted the need to address the chronic disease epidemic in the United States. He pointed out the alarming rates of obesity, diabetes, ADHD, and autism, stressing that reforming food production and healthcare could dramatically reduce the chronic disease burden within two years if Trump were elected.
Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump was further reinforced on social media, where he praised the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement.
“’Make America Great Again’ recalls a nation brimming with vitality, with a can-do spirit, with hope and a belief in itself. It was an America that was beginning to confront its darker shadows, could acknowledge the injustice in its past and present, yet at the same time could celebrate its successes,” Kennedy wrote.
“It was a nation of broad prosperity, the world’s most vibrant middle class, and a idealistic belief (though not consistently applied) in freedom, justice, and democracy. It was a nation that led the world in innovation, productivity, and technology,” he continued. “And it was the healthiest country in the world.”
Kennedy’s campaign may have ended, but his endorsement of Trump signals a significant shift in the 2024 presidential race, potentially influencing voters who supported his independent bid.