Trump Pledges to Release JFK Assassination Files as RFK Jr. Endorses Him at Rally

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a surprising appearance at a rally for former President Donald Trump on Friday, just hours after announcing the suspension of his own campaign and endorsing Trump for the 2024 election.

The rally, held at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, saw Trump, 78, introduce the 70-year-old Kennedy as an “incredible champion” of American values. Trump praised Kennedy, the scion of the famous Kennedy political family, as a “highly respected” figure and a “great person” before inviting him on stage as a surprise guest.

As Kennedy walked out, the crowd erupted into chants of “Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!” Trump acknowledged Kennedy’s challenging campaign, saying, “For the past 16 months, Bobby has run an extraordinary campaign.

I know because he went after me several times — I didn’t like it.” Trump continued to commend Kennedy, highlighting his ability to inspire millions of Americans and bring attention to the country’s critical issues that have long been ignored.

‘I’m proud of Bobby,” Trump said of the Democratic scion. AP

Kennedy, in his brief remarks, emphasized the shared values and common goals that led him to support Trump, despite their differences. He recounted their discussions, particularly after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where they focused on the values they both care about. “Don’t you want healthy children? And don’t you want the chemicals out of our food? And don’t you want the regulatory agencies to be free from corporate corruption? And that’s what President Trump told me that he wanted,” Kennedy shared with the audience.

He also praised Trump’s commitment to keeping the U.S. out of foreign wars, ending censorship, and protecting American freedoms from what he described as “totalitarianism.”

Trump, in turn, predicted that Kennedy would have a significant impact on his campaign, saying, “Bobby and I will fight together to defeat the corrupt political establishment and return control of this country to the people.” He encouraged Kennedy’s supporters to join forces with his campaign.

Earlier in the day, Kennedy formally ended his 2024 presidential bid, expressing deep frustration with the Democratic Party for what he called a “sham primary” that led to the selection of Vice President Kamala Harris “without an election.”

In an hour-long speech in Phoenix, Kennedy described his decision to suspend his campaign and back Trump as “agonizing” and hinted at his interest in serving as Health and Human Services secretary under a Trump administration. He also shared grim medical statistics, reflecting his ongoing concern for public health.

Trump took the opportunity to criticize the “Harris-Biden administration” for denying Kennedy Secret Service protection until after the Butler rally shooting. In a move to honour the Kennedy family legacy, Trump announced plans to establish a commission on assassination attempts, promising to release all federal records related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

RFK Jr. suspended his 2024 campaign just hours earlier. AP

“But I tell you, I have never had more people ask me, ‘Please, sir, release the documents on the Kennedy assassination,’ and we’re going to do that,” Trump assured the crowd.

In addition, Trump reiterated his pledge to work with Kennedy on a panel of experts to investigate the causes behind the rise in chronic health issues and childhood diseases in the U.S. “We want every child in America to grow up and to live a long and healthy life,” Trump declared.

Before bringing Kennedy on stage, Trump described his political movement as one that transcends party lines, welcoming support from Democrats, independents, and others who feel alienated by the current political establishment. “Our movement is not about Democrat versus Republican,” Trump said. “It’s about patriotism and common sense.”

He called the decision to suspend his campaign and back Trump “agonizing” in his hour-long speech in Phoenix. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The rally attendees were largely supportive of Trump’s alliance with Kennedy. Brett Munroe, a sales worker from Scottsdale, called the endorsement “amazing” and expressed optimism about the potential collaboration between the two. “I believe his policies along with Trump’s policies, a lot of them align and I think they can come to fairground,” Munroe said.

Jason Marshall, a retired veteran from Phoenix, echoed this sentiment, expressing relief at the potential for change. “You know, the more the merrier. Anything that will help us, man, we just don’t want what we’ve had for the past four [years],” Marshall said.

As a “tribute” to RFK, Trump announced that if elected, he would establish a commission on assassination attempts that would release all federal records related to JFK’s murder. AFP via Getty Images

Arizona State Senator Anthony Kern also anticipated a boost in Trump’s campaign from Kennedy’s endorsement, predicting that the support from Kennedy’s base could be crucial in the upcoming election. “We’re going to win this thing,” Kern said confidently, referencing Kennedy’s recent polling numbers as an independent.