Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ended his campaign for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Kennedy has endorsed Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump, a move that could shift the election odds in Trump’s favor.
There had been a significant push for Kennedy Jr. to drop out of the race and endorse one of the remaining candidates.
Kennedy’s move could potentially sway a portion of his followers toward the former president.
Kennedy revealed that internal polling suggested his continued presence in the race could hinder Trump’s chances while inadvertently aiding Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Despite this, public polling does not show clear evidence that Kennedy’s candidacy had a significant effect on the major-party candidates’ standings.
Reasons Behind Kennedy’s Decision
Kennedy cited concerns over free speech, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and what he described as “a war on our children” as key reasons for his decision to withdraw from key battleground states. He made it clear, however, that he is not completely ending his campaign, allowing his supporters to continue voting for him in states where the outcome is not likely to be affected.
“These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” Kennedy said.
This week, Kennedy initiated the process to remove his name from the ballot in Arizona and Pennsylvania. However, in battleground states like Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, officials confirmed it’s too late for him to withdraw his candidacy, even if he chooses to do so.
Kennedy’s decision came after a series of discussions with Trump over the past few weeks, characterizing their partnership as a “unity party” that allows for open disagreement on various issues. Kennedy hinted at the possibility of a role in a future Trump administration, although details were not disclosed.
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The announcement capped off a week of speculation, marked by conflicting signals from Kennedy’s team. Just before his Phoenix speech, his campaign filed a document in Pennsylvania court stating that he would endorse Trump, though a spokesperson later claimed this was an error, and the filing would be corrected.
When Kennedy finally addressed the crowd, he criticized the Democratic Party, the media, and political institutions before formally endorsing Trump. Trump, speaking from Las Vegas, expressed gratitude for Kennedy’s endorsement, though he declined to comment on any specific roles Kennedy might be offered in his administration.
“He’s just a respected person,” Trump said. “Not everybody agrees with everything he says, but that’s true with everybody.”
