Independent Party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr has suspended his 2024 presidential campaign, criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, and officially endorsed former President Donald Trump — a move that his siblings call “a betrayal” of their father and family’s values.
On Friday afternoon (August 23), RFK Jr., who was drawing about 4% support in polls, formerly addressed the nation and revealed that he had suspended his independent bid for the White House and was now backing the Republican nominee: Donald Trump. In his address, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “In my heart, I no longer believe I have a path to elect victory. I am suspending [my campaign] but not ending it.”
He continued to clarify, “I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign. I am simply suspending it and not ending it. My name will remain on the ballot in most states. If you live in a blue state, you can vote for me without harming or helping President Trump or Vice President Harris. In red states, the same will apply. I encourage you to vote for me and if enough of you do vote for me, and neither of the two major party candidates wins 270 votes — which is quite possible.”
He added, “In fact, today our polling shows them tying at 269-269 and I can conceivably still end up in the White House in a contingent election. But, in about 10 battleground states, where my presence would be a spoiler [someone who will alter the election without winning], I’m gonna remove my name. I’ve already started that process, encouraging voters not to vote for me. It’s with a sense of victory and not defeat that I’m suspending my campaign activities.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued to add that he was “throwing my support to President Trump.” He also said that Trump had offered to “enlist me in his administration,” but he there were a few contingencies. RFK Jr. said, “We align on many key issues,” but also reserved the right to publicly disagree with Trump.
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Reacting to RFK Jr.’s support, Trump thanked him in a brief appearance in Las Vegas, Nevada. Trump said, “I just want to thank Bobby. He’s a great guy.” Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s family did not have such a great reaction. Instead, they took to social media and highlighted his “betrayal” of their father and family’s legacy.
In a joint statement, tweeted by his sister, Kerry Kennedy, 5 of RFK Jr.’s siblings wrote, “We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise, and national pride. We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story.”
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