Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race and has announced his endorsement of Donald J. Trump. The decision was made public during a live press conference in Arizona on Friday, following confirmation earlier in the day through a court filing in Pennsylvania.
During his speech, Kennedy criticized the Democratic Party, lamenting its shift away from principles like free speech and support for the working class. He praised the efforts of his campaign and acknowledged the sacrifices made by his supporters.
“In an honest system, I believe I would have won the election,” Kennedy stated. He expressed frustration over what he described as an unfair election process, citing issues like biased debates, manipulated media, and partisan courts.
He accused the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of using legal tactics to undermine his campaign and to remove him and other candidates from the ballot while attempting to imprison former President Trump.
RFK JR. announces three reasons he was persuaded to leave the Democrat Party and endorse Trump:
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) August 23, 2024
-Free speech
-War in Ukraine
-War on our children pic.twitter.com/0X1UO0Hm5x
Kennedy also criticized the Democrats for what he described as a “coup” against President Biden, positioning Kamala Harris as the party’s candidate. He questioned the DNC’s decision to back a candidate who has not participated in interviews or debates throughout the election cycle, suggesting that the party has weaponized government agencies and abandoned democratic principles.
Addressing the media, Kennedy accused them of becoming mouthpieces for the government rather than maintaining a skeptical stance toward authority. He also highlighted how social media platforms have allegedly colluded with the government to censor Americans, thus threatening the First Amendment.
Kennedy cited three key issues that led him to withdraw from the Democratic Party and support Trump: free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the impact of chronic diseases on children in the U.S.
He revealed that he and Trump had met to discuss forming a “Unity Party” and addressing chronic illness in America. While Kennedy pledged his support to Trump, he clarified that he was suspending, not terminating, his campaign.
RFK JR: "Who needs a policy when you have Trump to hate?" pic.twitter.com/49hzCpk7WK
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) August 23, 2024
He announced plans to pull his ballots from 10 battleground states and spoke about the personal difficulties of his decision, emphasizing that it was made through deep prayer.
Kennedy expressed his desire to bring a spirit of unity and kindness to Trump’s campaign, focusing on the shared love for children as a unifying theme for all Americans.
Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s running mate, had hinted earlier in the week that they were considering either continuing the campaign or endorsing Trump. She noted that the Democratic Party had employed various tactics to pressure Kennedy into withdrawing.
Kennedy’s withdrawal and endorsement of Trump came after he announced earlier in the week that he would address the nation on Friday. Speculation grew as Kennedy withdrew his election registration papers in Arizona, leading to rumors that he would appear on stage with Trump at a Turning Point Action event.
Trump, when asked about the potential endorsement, said, “I have no idea if he’s going to endorse me. It’s possible we will be meeting tomorrow, and we’ll be discussing it.”
Kennedy’s campaign faced numerous challenges, including a lack of Secret Service protection from the Biden-Harris administration and legal battles to get on the ballot in various states. Despite these hurdles, Kennedy ran one of the most closely followed independent campaigns in recent history.
As a member of the Kennedy family, his legacy includes his father, former Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated.
Throughout his campaign, Kennedy has been an outspoken activist on environmental issues, the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccine mandates. He has criticized Big Pharma and advocated for a healthcare system focused on treating chronic conditions rather than infectious diseases.
His dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party, which he once belonged to, was a recurring theme in his campaign and in his final press conference.