Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Ends Presidential Campaign, Endorses Trump in 2024 Election

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate in the 2024 presidential race, announced on Friday that he is ending his bid for the White House and will endorse former President Donald Trump.

The 70-year-old Kennedy announced in a Pennsylvania court filing just days after speculation arose that he might drop out of the race and back Trump.

Kennedy’s decision reportedly followed discussions between his team and Trump’s allies, as well as frustration with the Democratic Party, which he felt had marginalized him throughout his campaign.

In a speech on Friday, Kennedy criticized the 2024 election process, specifically condemning the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for selecting Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate without a primary.

He referenced what he called a “palace coup” that led to Harris’s installation, arguing that the DNC had bypassed the democratic process.

Earlier this week, Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, hinted at the possibility of their campaign joining forces with Trump to prevent Harris from winning. Sources close to the situation indicated that the endorsement was not finalized until late Thursday, adding to the intrigue when Trump announced a “special guest” appearance near Kennedy’s location that same day.

Trump, who is 78, reportedly met with Kennedy in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention in an effort to secure his endorsement. Following the announcement, Trump said he would be “honoured” to have Kennedy’s backing.

Kennedy initially launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat challenging President Joe Biden. However, he switched to an independent run in October, criticizing both major political parties as part of a “uniparty” system. His campaign attracted a mix of liberals and conservatives, particularly for his positions on anti-war policies, environmental issues, and scepticism about COVID-19 measures.

Despite a strong start, Kennedy’s campaign faced several challenges, including difficulties securing ballot access across all 50 states, costly petitioning efforts, and controversies that plagued his run.

He also struggled to meet the threshold for participating in debates with Trump and Biden and faced internal conflicts within his campaign, including disagreements over key issues like abortion.

Kennedy’s decision to endorse Trump is likely to have a significant impact on the 2024 race, especially as Trump’s campaign had been courting Kennedy for months.

The endorsement could shift the dynamics of the election, particularly in the close race against Harris, as Trump looks to consolidate support from voters who had been drawn to Kennedy’s campaign.