Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lost his Secret Service protection following the suspension of his presidential campaign.
According to Fox News, the change in protection status was confirmed by Kennedy's press secretary on Monday. This development comes just days after Kennedy announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and his subsequent endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
The decision to end Kennedy's Secret Service protection marks the conclusion of a security arrangement that began in July. At that time, President Biden ordered the protection for Kennedy in response to an assassination attempt against Trump. The initial provision of Secret Service protection for Kennedy came after his earlier requests for such security had been denied.
Kennedy's journey to receiving Secret Service protection was not straightforward. His initial requests for protection were denied earlier in the election cycle. It wasn't until the assassination attempt on former President Trump in July that the situation changed dramatically.
In response to the attempt on Trump's life, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that President Biden had directed him to work with the Secret Service to provide protection for Kennedy. This decision was made in light of the heightened security concerns following the incident involving Trump.
The provision of Secret Service protection for presidential candidates is not automatic and is typically based on various factors, including the level of threat and the candidate's standing in the race. In Kennedy's case, the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Trump's security incident prompted the reevaluation of his protection needs.
Kennedy's loss of Secret Service protection is directly linked to his decision to suspend his presidential campaign. On Friday, he announced his withdrawal from the race and, in a surprising move, endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Following his campaign suspension, Kennedy elaborated on his decision to support Trump. He spoke about a "unity government" concept that he and Trump are pursuing together. According to Kennedy, Trump has agreed to focus on key issues that were central to Kennedy's campaign platform. These issues include ending the war in Ukraine, combating censorship, and improving children's health in the United States.
Kennedy's press secretary stated:
In light of this weekend's events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy, Jr. Both prior to and after the events of this past weekend.
This statement, originally made by Secretary Mayorkas when Kennedy was granted protection, now serves as a historical marker of the beginning of Kennedy's brief period under Secret Service care.
The withdrawal of Kennedy from the presidential race and his subsequent endorsement of Trump could have significant implications for the upcoming election. Pollsters within Trump's campaign have reported that they are already seeing Kennedy's supporters shifting their allegiance to the former president.
Prior to Kennedy's withdrawal, polls indicated that he was garnering approximately 5% to 6% support in key swing states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio. This level of support, while not enough to win the presidency, could have been sufficient to influence the outcome in closely contested states.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s loss of Secret Service protection marks the end of a brief but significant period in his political career. The suspension of his presidential campaign, coupled with his endorsement of Donald Trump, has led to the termination of his security detail. This development comes just months after Kennedy was granted protection following an assassination attempt on Trump. As the 2024 presidential race continues to evolve, the impact of Kennedy's withdrawal and endorsement on voter preferences remains to be seen.
