Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is suspending his 2024 presidential bid and encouraging his supporters to vote for former President Donald J. Trump. The scion of the Kennedy political clan made the announcement during a press conference in Arizona. Speculation is rife that Kennedy will join Trump at an event in the state later this evening.
“Sixten months ago in April 2023, I launched my campaign for President of the United States,” Kennedy said—thanking the hard work of his supporters, volunteers, and campaign staff. He continued, ominously stating: “In the name of ‘saving democracy’ the Democratic party set out to dismantle it.”
“Many months ago, I promised the American people I’d withdraw from the race if I became a spoiler,” Kennedy continued before announcing he was suspending his campaign and would remove his name from the ballot in about ten battleground states, encouraging his supporters to cast their ballots for former President Trump.
Kennedy’s exit and endorsement of Trump could benefit the latter in the 2024 presidential race. Election polls show a close race between Trump and Kamala Harris, and Kennedy has consistently polled between three and five points among voters. This significant slice of the electorate could put Trump over the top in November.
This week, speculation that Kennedy would exit the race hit a fever pitch following a series of public statements made by his running mate, Nicole Shanahan. Late Thursday night, the Kenendy campaign submitted paperwork withdrawing RFK Jr.’s name from the Arizona presidential ballot line.
The National Pulse reported earlier on Friday the Hollywood comedian and Kennedy supporter Rob Schneider posted a letter on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that the independent candidate would, in fact, be dropping from the race and backing former President Trump. In his letter, Scheider himself also stated he’d support Trump in November.
Earlier this month, RFK Jr. said the Democrats under Kamala Harris and Joe Biden would be “unrecognizable” to his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and father, Robert ‘Bobby’ Kennedy Sr. Meanwhile, a leaked call between Kennedy and Trump following Trump’s near-assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealed the former President discussing the possibility of Kennedy joining the next Trump administration, possibly with a role investigating vaccine safety.