Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has paused his independent presidential campaign and endorsed Republican Donald Trump, a surprising twist that might give Trump a slight advantage among Kennedy’s supporters.
Kennedy announced on Friday that his internal polls indicated his continued candidacy would harm Trump and benefit Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. Despite this, recent public polls don’t show a significant impact from Kennedy’s campaign on either major-party candidate.
Kennedy cited issues like free speech, the Ukraine conflict, and what he describes as “a war on our children” as reasons for his decision to withdraw from the ballot in battleground states. “These are the main issues that led me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to support President Trump,” Kennedy explained.
Although he’s not formally ending his campaign, Kennedy noted that his supporters can still back him in states where their influence is minimal. He has started the process of withdrawing from ballots in Arizona and Pennsylvania, but it’s too late for him to remove his name from the ballot in Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
Kennedy’s decision came after recent discussions with Trump. He framed their partnership as a “unity party,” where they can openly and privately disagree while working together.
Trump was set to hold a rally in Glendale, Arizona, shortly after Kennedy’s announcement, with hints that Kennedy might make a surprise appearance. Despite past criticisms and their differing political stances, the Kennedy and Trump campaigns have been exchanging praise and exploring collaboration in recent months.
Five of Kennedy’s family members issued a statement expressing disappointment over his endorsement of Trump, describing it as “a sad ending to a sad story.”
The Kennedy and Trump campaigns have both accused Democrats of misusing the legal system for political gain and have hinted at potential cooperation to reduce Harris’ chances.
Kennedy’s son recently posted and then removed a video of a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, where Trump appeared to persuade Kennedy to support him. Discussions continued, with Trump expressing enthusiasm for Kennedy’s endorsement and suggesting Kennedy could play a role in his administration.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, suggested on a podcast that Kennedy might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump,” although she clarified she was not directly negotiating with Trump.
At Kennedy’s Phoenix event, Casey Westerman, a 38-year-old software salesperson from Chandler, Arizona, expressed that she would support Trump if Kennedy endorsed him, highlighting her trust in Kennedy’s judgment.
Kennedy entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but switched to an independent bid last fall. His campaign, which gained traction among anti-establishment and vaccine-skeptic voters, has faced financial and legal difficulties. Recent polls show his support in the low single digits, and it’s uncertain if he will maintain that level of support in the general election, as third-party candidates often struggle to meet early poll predictions.
