Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced today that he is suspending his presidential campaign. However, Kennedy clarified that he is not terminating it entirely, stating, “My name will remain on the ballot in most states.”
After what he described as “deep prayer,” Kennedy declared his support for former President Donald Trump and indicated he would be joining his campaign. He cited his strong concerns about chronic diseases and Trump’s commitments to tackling these issues as decisive factors in his decision.
Kennedy expressed, “I only have maybe 10 more years to be effective,” emphasizing his belief that if Trump is elected and fulfills his promises, the significant burden of chronic diseases that affects and drains the country’s resources could be alleviated.
While endorsing Trump, Kennedy acknowledged that he still had a chance to win in a contingent election but mentioned he would withdraw his name from the ballot in ten states where his candidacy might affect the outcome negatively. “If you live in a blue state you can vote for me,” he urged voters, encouraging them to support him.
In his speech, Kennedy further criticized the Democratic National Committee (DNC), accusing it of engaging in legal battles against both him and Trump, and drew comparisons between President Biden and the DNC to Vladimir Putin’s regime in Russia. He also called out Kamala Harris for avoiding unscripted interactions with the press, unlike himself and Trump.
“Are we still a role model for democracy in this country, or have we made it kind of a joke?” Kennedy questioned, noting he felt compelled to exit the race once it became clear he could inadvertently assist the Democratic Party in winning the election.
There have been signs of a growing political alliance between Kennedy and Trump for several months. In July, Kennedy attended the Republican National Convention, where a video surfaced showing him and Trump discussing a possible endorsement. Additionally, Trump campaign donor Timothy Mellon reportedly contributed $25 million to Kennedy’s campaign. Earlier this week, Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, hinted during a podcast that he might drop out to endorse Trump.
In a recent post on X, Shanahan remarked that Democrats are “terrified” at the prospect of a coalition between their movement and Trump’s supporters.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the DNC, Ramsey Reid, issued a statement suggesting that MAGA Republicans had promoted Kennedy’s campaign as a strategy to confuse voters and damage the Democrats, claiming that his withdrawal is an indication that their plan did not succeed.
The Kennedy campaign has yet to respond to requests for further comments.
Kennedy began his campaign as a Democrat in April 2023 before switching to an independent run in October 2023. Throughout his campaign, he developed a notable online presence, participating in podcasts and engaging with audiences on platforms like TikTok. After not being invited to the debate stage along with Trump and President Joe Biden, he organized an alternative debate that attracted over 9 million viewers, streamed online and on X..
