Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially endorsed former President Donald Trump, bringing an end to his independent presidential campaign.
According to a report from NBC News, Kennedy made the announcement during a speech in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 23, 2024, following weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The endorsement was initially confirmed through a court filing in Pennsylvania before Kennedy took the stage in the battleground state of Arizona.
The move comes after Kennedy's campaign had been struggling in recent polls, with the candidate blaming Democrats for what he described as a relentless campaign against his independent candidacy.
The decision to back Trump came after extensive discussions between the two camps. Sources familiar with the talks revealed that Donald Trump Jr. had been working to secure Kennedy's endorsement for six months. The initial conversations began about a week before the Republican convention, with right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson facilitating the connection between Trump Jr. and Kennedy.
Throughout the negotiation process, Trump Jr. and donor Omeed Malik served as intermediaries to finalize the deal. Kennedy is expected to play a role in Trump's campaign moving forward, although the specifics of his involvement remain unclear.
In an interview, Malik stated that Kennedy had not been promised a Cabinet position in exchange for his endorsement. However, he suggested that Kennedy could have potential roles in areas such as health should Trump be successful in the election.
During his speech, Kennedy outlined his decision to support Trump. He criticized the Democratic Party, accusing them of abandoning democracy and orchestrating a conspiracy to undermine his campaign's competitiveness. Kennedy also drew parallels between himself and Trump, portraying both as victims of what he called "continual legal warfare" by Democrats.
Kennedy stated:
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. These are the principled causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump. The causes were: Free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the war on our children.
The endorsement marks a significant shift in the landscape of the 2024 presidential election. Kennedy's decision to back Trump could potentially influence the distribution of votes, particularly among independent voters who may have been considering Kennedy as an alternative to the major party candidates.
Trump's campaign acknowledged the potential impact of Kennedy's endorsement in a memo from pollster Tony Fabrizio, which argued that their polling shows Kennedy's vote breaking for Trump in key states. This development could have implications for the electoral strategies of both major parties as they navigate the final months of the campaign.
Kennedy's announcement also included details about his future plans. He stated that he would work to remove his name from ballots in swing states while remaining on the ballot in solidly red and blue states. This decision, he explained, would allow his supporters in those states to vote for him without potentially impacting the overall outcome of the election.
In conclusion, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s endorsement of Donald Trump marks the end of his independent presidential campaign and potentially reshapes the dynamics of the 2024 election. The move follows weeks of negotiations and comes as Kennedy's campaign faced declining poll numbers. While the full impact of this endorsement remains to be seen, it undoubtedly adds a new dimension to an already contentious presidential race.
