Kennedy Jr. Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Trump

(Patria) - Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of the famous American political family, withdrew from the US presidential race yesterday and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, reports RSE.

- I no longer believe I have a realistic path to electoral victory - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of assassinated Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, said at a press conference in Arizona.

His campaign staff hinted that they feared his remaining in the race would draw support away from former President Trump, who is in a tough fight with Democratic candidate, US Vice President Kamala Harris.

Kennedy, citing his concerns about freedom of speech, the war in Ukraine, and "the war against our children," announced he would support Trump. He added that he would withdraw his name from the ballots in 10 key states for the presidential election outcome, but would remain a candidate in some.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental activist and vaccine opponent, entered the race in April 2023 as a challenger to President Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.

He then changed his plan and decided to run as an independent candidate, and some polls last year showed him with up to 20 percent support from Americans.

During the Super Bowl, the American football final, in February 2024, he had a prominent political advertisement in which he invoked his father and uncle, which was met with angry reactions from many prominent members of that family who condemned his campaign.

His sister Kerry said yesterday that the decision to support Trump was a betrayal of the Kennedy family's values.

- It is a sad end to a sad story - she stated on social media.

For a time, both the Biden and Trump campaigns showed signs of concern that Kennedy could gain enough support to change the election outcome.

However, he faced a difficult battle to get on the ballots as an independent candidate, although he secured it in some key states for winning the presidential election.

Nevertheless, as the race rapidly changed in the last two months - Trump survived an assassination attempt, and the 81-year-old Biden withdrew from the race, yielding to Harris - voter interest in Kennedy waned.

An Ipsos poll earlier this month showed his national support had fallen to four percent, which, although small, is still enough to potentially influence the outcome of a close race.