Today, unbiased candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
“I am not terminating my campaign, I am simply suspending it, not ending it,” mentioned Kennedy. “My name will remain on the ballot in most states.”
But Kennedy mentioned that after “deep prayer,” he had determined to throw his assist behind former president Donald Trump and could be becoming a member of his marketing campaign. He mentioned his fervent concern about power illness, and Trump’s guarantees to handle these points if elected, finally formed his determination.
“I only have maybe 10 more years to be effective,” Kennedy mentioned. “If President Trump is elected and honors his word, the vast burden of chronic disease that burdens and bankrupts the country will disappear.”
Before endorsing Trump, Kennedy famous that he might nonetheless win in a contingent election, however that he would take away his identify from the poll within the 10 states the place his candidacy might act as a spoiler. “If you live in a blue state you can vote for me,” he mentioned. “I encourage you to vote for me.”
Kennedy also used his speech to accuse the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of waging legal warfare against himself and former president Donald Trump, comparing Biden and the organization to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. He took aim at Harris for not doing unscripted interviews with the press, while he and Trump have.
“Are we still a role model for democracy in this country, or have we made it kind of a joke?” he asked. Kennedy noted that he was compelled to leave the race when it became clear that he would “hand the election to the Democratic Party.”
Indications that Kennedy and Trump had been inching towards a political alliance has been constructing for months. In July, Kennedy traveled to the Republican National Convention, the place a video of Trump and Kennedy showing to debate a attainable endorsement surfaced. Trump marketing campaign donor Timothy Mellon additionally supported the Kennedy marketing campaign with $25 million. Earlier this week, Kennedy’s working mate, Nicole Shanahan, prompt in a podcast look that he may drop out and endorse the previous president.
In a Thursday publish on X, Shanahan mentioned that Democrats are “terrified of the idea of our movement joining forces with Donald Trump.”
“MAGA Republicans elevated RFK Jr.’s sham candidacy as a tool to mislead voters and hurt Democrats, and RFK Jr.’s exit is an admission their gambit failed,” DNC spokesperson Ramsey Reid mentioned in a press release.
The Kennedy marketing campaign didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Kennedy launched his marketing campaign as a Democrat in April 2023 after which as an unbiased in October 2023, and seemed to be a potential spoiler candidate who might meaningfully influence the outcomes of the election. Throughout his marketing campaign, Kennedy appeared to have mastered the artwork of taking on no matter digital house was provided to him. He appeared on podcasts and in TikTok Lives, and courted crypto donors. When he was not provided a spot on the controversy stage alongside Trump and President Joe Biden, Kennedy hosted a parallel debate, streamed on-line and on X, considered by over 9 million individuals.