Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his campaign on Friday and endorsed Republican Donald Trump. Kennedy had initially launched his campaign as a Democrat, leveraging his well-known family name in American politics.
Following the endorsement announcement, Kennedy appeared alongside Trump at a campaign event in Arizona, where he received a warm reception from the crowd. “His candidacy has inspired millions and millions of Americans, raised critical issues that have been too long ignored in this country,” Trump said of Kennedy.
Political strategists remain uncertain about the impact of Kennedy’s endorsement on Trump’s tight race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the November 5 election.
At a news conference earlier in the day, Kennedy, 70, revealed that he had met with Trump and his aides multiple times. He found common ground with Trump on several issues, including border security, free speech, and ending wars. “There are still many issues and approaches on which we continue to have very serious differences. But we are aligned on other key issues,” he explained.
During the Arizona rally, Kennedy reiterated his stance on key issues, including combating chronic illness and eliminating hazardous chemicals from the environment and food supply. Trump, with Kennedy by his side, promised that if he won the presidency, he would create a commission to investigate assassination attempts and release files related to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.
Kennedy, known as RFK Jr., announced plans to remove his name from ballots in 10 battleground states but would continue his candidacy in other states.
An environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, Kennedy is the son and nephew of two prominent Democratic figures who were assassinated in the 1960s. He entered the presidential race in April 2023, initially challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. Interest in Kennedy surged as voters looked for alternatives to both Biden and the legally embattled Trump, with a November 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll showing him with 20% support in a three-way race with Biden and Trump.