Today, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he is withdrawing from the presidential race.
“I’m not ending my campaign. I’m just stopping, not ending it,” Kennedy said. “My name will remain on the ballot in most states.”
But Kennedy said he decided to support former President Donald Trump after “deep prayer” and will join his campaign. He said his passionate concern for chronic illness and Trump’s promise to address it if elected ultimately shaped his decision.
“I have about 10 years left to be effective,” Kennedy said. “If President Trump is elected and keeps his word, the enormous burden of chronic diseases that are burdening and bankrupting our country will be eliminated.”
Before endorsing Trump, Kennedy said he could still win a conditional election, but he would remove his name from the ballot in 10 states where his nomination could be blocked. “If you live in a blue state, you can vote for me,” he said. “I hope you vote for me.”
Kennedy also used the speech to accuse the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of waging a legal war against him and former President Donald Trump, and likened Biden and his organization to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. He criticized Harris for not giving unscripted interviews to the press, but she and Trump did.
“Are we still a role model for democracy in this country, or have we made it into some kind of joke?” he asked. Kennedy said he had to withdraw from the race when it became clear he was “going to hand the election over to the Democrats.”
Signs that Kennedy and Trump are moving toward a political alliance have been building for months. In July, Kennedy went to the Republican National Convention, video News emerged that Trump and Kennedy were apparently discussing a possible endorsement. Trump campaign donor Timothy Mellon also gave $25 million to Kennedy’s campaign. Earlier this week, Kennedy’s running mate Nicole Shanahan appeared on a podcast You may drop out midway I support the former president.
On Thursday Post to XShanahan said Democrats are “horrified by the idea of our movement joining forces with Donald Trump.”
“MAGA Republicans viewed RFK Jr.’s sham nomination as a tool to mislead voters and harm the Democratic Party, and RFK Jr.’s resignation is an admission that their gamble has failed,” DNC spokesman Ramsey Reid said in a statement.
The Kennedy campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Kennedy began campaigning as a Democrat in April 2023 and later ran as an independent. October 2023And he seemed like a potential spoiler who could meaningfully influence the outcome of the election. Throughout the campaign, Kennedy seemed to have mastered the art of occupying every digital space available to him. He appeared on podcasts and TikTok Lives, and courted cryptocurrency donors. When he wasn’t offered a spot on the debate stage with Trump and President Joe Biden, Kennedy hosted a parallel debate streamed online and on X, More than 9 million people.
