- RFK Jr. endorsed Donald Trump for president after weeks of back-channel courtship
- Kennedy blamed Democrats for running a relentless campaign against his independent candidacy, claiming it hampered his chances
- Kennedy said he will work to remove his name from swing state ballots but remain on others, leaving open the remote possibility of assuming the presidency in 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially endorsed Donald Trump for president after weeks of behind-the-scenes discussions between the two camps. Kennedy’s endorsement comes as his own independent presidential campaign has floundered.
Kennedy’s Announcement
On Friday afternoon, Kennedy took the stage in Arizona to announce his endorsement of Trump. He opened his remarks with a lengthy condemnation of the Democratic Party, accusing them of abandoning democracy. He also blamed the media and Democrats for conspiring against his campaign. Kennedy then made his endorsement of Trump official, saying “Many months ago I promised the American people I would withdraw from the race if I became a spoiler. In my heart I no longer believe I have a realistic path to electoral victory.”
Kennedy’s Reasoning
Kennedy framed both himself and Trump as victims of the Democrats’ “legal warfare.” He criticized Kamala Harris’s campaign as focused solely on opposing Trump. By contrast, Kennedy described Trump as a partner on issues like free speech, Ukraine, and “the war on our children.” Kennedy said of Trump: “One of the two candidates has adopted these issues as his own to the point where he has asked to enlist me in his administration. I’m speaking of course of Donald Trump.”
The Courtship
Kennedy’s endorsement comes after weeks of discussions between the two camps. Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson initially connected Trump Jr. and Kennedy. Since then, Trump Jr. and donor Omeed Malik served as intermediaries. Kennedy is expected to join Trump on the campaign trail going forward. Kennedy said he and Trump “discovered we are aligned on many key issues.” But Kennedy stressed he will still disagree with Trump both publicly and privately.
The Future
Kennedy said he will remove his name from ballots only in swing states, allowing supporters in red and blue states to still vote for him. By remaining on some ballots, Kennedy said he could technically become president in 2025 if no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes.
The Winding Down of Kennedy’s Campaign
Kennedy’s independent bid faced intense opposition and difficulties from the start. His poll numbers dropped over the summer amid controversies. Neither Kennedy nor his running mate actively campaigned in recent weeks. Instead, Kennedy generated negative headlines that raised questions about his viability as a candidate. He also struggled to reconcile his career as an anti-vaccine activist with the need to appeal to a broad electorate. Kennedy repeatedly flip-flopped on abortion policy as well. At an organizational level, his campaign struggled to get on ballots across the country. While Kennedy’s campaign raised significant funds, it spent millions on ballot access efforts that ultimately fell short. His campaign also spent heavily on security after Kennedy pushed for Secret Service protection.
