US election: RFK Jr suspends presidential campaign

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign on Friday, telling supporters that he would be endorsing Donald Trump's presidential bid.

This follows days of speculation that his withdrawal and endorsement of Republican candidate Donald Trump was imminent.

"I no longer believe that I have a realistic path of electoral victory," Kennedy said at a press conference in Arizona.

There has also been speculation that Kennedy was seeking a Cabinet position with Trump in exchange for an endorsement after it was widely reported by US media outlets that he had been rebuffed by the Harris campaign.

Trump welcomes endorsement from 'Bobby'

Kennedy, a conspiracy-theory peddling anti-vaxxer, said that free speech, the war in Ukraine, and what he called a "war on our children" had prompted him to come out in support of former and would-be future Republican President Donald Trump, as he challenges Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, the current vice president, for the nation's top job.

"These," RFK Jr. said, "are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent and now to throw my support to President Trump."

Trump, appearing in Las Vegas, Nevada, spoke of, "a very nice endorsement from RFK Jr., ... Bobby."  

Kennedy said his name would remain on ballots in many states but added: "In about ten battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler. I'm going to remove my name, and I've already started that process, and urge voters not to vote for me."

Kennedy told supporters he had met with Trump and his aides several times, coming to the conclusion that they agreed on issues like border security, free speech and ending wars: "There are still many issues and approaches on which we continue to have very serious differences. But we are aligned on other key issues."

Hours after his announcement, Kennedy appeared on stage with Trump at a rally in Arizona where he was welcomed with cheers of "Bobby" from the crowd.

Could RFK Jr. still influence the election outcome?

Although Kennedy's presence in the race was a concern to both sides, support for his candidacy has fallen considerably in the wake of a failed Trump assassination attempt and the enthusiasm enjoyed by Joe Biden's replacement, Kamala Harris. 

Currently, he is thought to have about 4% voter support — down considerably from 20% in November 2023 — though diminished, that could still sway the outcome of the election, potentially in Trump's favor.

Nevertheless, Democrats offered a public shrug when confronted with the news. 

"Donald Trump isn't earning an endorsement that's going to help build support, he's inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance," said Democratic National Committee Senior Adviser Mary Beth Cahill.

'A sad end to a sad story,' say siblings, citing betrayal of Kennedy values

An environmental lawyer, Kennedy declared his intent to challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in April 2023.

Before that, in February, he ran a high-profile Super Bowl ad invoking his father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy; and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, drawing outrage from much of his high-profile family.

On Friday, five family members publicly denounced his support for Trump as a betrayal of everything the once powerful clan has ever stood for, calling the move, "a sad end to a sad story."

Beyond hoping for a job with a potential Trump administration, it is reported that Kennedy also wants Trump to allow his political movement to continue in some fashion.

RFK Jr., an obscure candidate from fairytale political dynasty

Throughout his campaign, Kennedy portrayed himself as a political outsider who would not restrict abortion, would repeal numerous provisions in Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and would seek to seal the southern border against immigrants illegally entering the US. 

Kennedy, who exclaimed, "I have so many skeletons in my closet…" after being accused of sexual assault by a former family babysitter, made headlines with numerous obscure stories ranging from confessions of staging crime scenes with dead animal carcasses for fun or having had a parasitic worm in his brain, to explaining a picture of him posing next to what looked like a dog roasting on a spit.

By "suspending" and not "ending" his campaign, Kennedy can hang on to any potential delegates he may win, as well as opening the door to more cash in terms of federal matching funds.

Timothy Mellon, an 82-year-old right-wing banking heir, has given millions of dollars to Kennedy this election cycle; while at the same time remaining true to Donald Trump, to whom he has so far given $75 million (€67 million), according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings through July 31.

RFK Jr.'s running mate Nicole Shanahan, a California tech lawyer and the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, also donated over $15 million to the Kennedy campaign, according to the FEC.

js/rmt,ab (dpa, Reuters)