Kennedy, who has been a vocal anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist, acknowledged at a press conference in Arizona that he no longer saw a viable path to victory. He criticized the Democratic Party for selecting Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee without a primary contest and listed grievances against his former party, leading him to support Trump.
Kennedy’s independent campaign faced challenges, including failing to secure ballot access in many states and making controversial claims, such as suffering from a parasitic brain worm and a bizarre incident involving a dead bear cub in Central Park. His campaign also faced opposition from much of his famous family.
In a joint statement, five of Kennedy’s siblings condemned his endorsement of Trump, calling it a betrayal of their family’s values and expressing their support for Harris.
Kennedy’s departure came just after Harris delivered a compelling speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, accepting the nomination and preparing for the final stretch of the campaign. Analysts are uncertain how Kennedy’s exit will affect the race and where his supporters will go, but even a small shift in a crucial swing state could impact the outcome.
At a Trump rally in Glendale, Kennedy was introduced with enthusiasm, and Trump praised him, announcing the creation of an “independent presidential commission on assassination attempts” to release documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s uncle.
Harris’s campaign is targeting Kennedy’s supporters, with campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon emphasizing the common ground between their perspectives. Harris, who has gained momentum after replacing President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket, is competing closely with Trump in the polls. She has raised a record-breaking half-billion dollars and received a potential boost from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on interest rate cuts.
Trump, meanwhile, has energized his base with stark warnings about crime and national decline, while Harris and her campaign have focused on reaching centrist voters and addressing Trump with a mix of critique and derision.
