By Emmanuel Kwada
In a surprising turn of events, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has withdrawn from the 2024 US presidential race and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump. Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat and member of the renowned Kennedy political dynasty, announced his decision at a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday.
Kennedy cited his alignment with Trump on key issues, including the war in Ukraine, as the reason for his support. “The principles that led me to leave the Democratic Party have now compelled me to throw my support to President Trump,” he stated.
Kennedy cited his alignment with Trump on key issues, including the war in Ukraine,
Kennedy’s endorsement has sparked outrage within his family, with his sister, Kerry Kennedy, calling it a “betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.”
The move also marks a dramatic shift in Kennedy’s campaign, which initially focused on anti-vaccine rhetoric and criticism of the Democratic Party’s establishment.
Trump praised Kennedy as “phenomenal” and “brilliant” during a rally in Glendale, Arizona, where he welcomed him on stage. Trump also reiterated his promise to release all remaining documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, a pledge likely aimed at securing RFK Jr.’s endorsement.
Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump underscores the fractured state of US politics and highlights the challenges faced by third-party candidates in a deeply polarized two-party system. His endorsement may bolster Trump’s appeal among disaffected voters, but it also risks alienating traditional Democrats and some Independents.
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