Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has come under great criticism from the Kennedy family after making a significant political move on Friday, August 23, by suspending his independent presidential campaign and endorsing GOP nominee Donald Trump during a speech in Phoenix, Arizona.
Citing three main issues—free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the “war on our children”—Kennedy explained that he no longer saw a viable path to the White House.
He mentioned that processed foods, chemicals, and obesity were harming U.S. children and that joining Trump was “a difficult sacrifice” for his family but necessary for the future of America’s youth.
Following his speech in Phoenix, Kennedy appeared at a rally with Trump in Glendale, Arizona, where the crowd chanted “Bobby! Bobby!” Trump praised Kennedy’s endorsement, saying it would have “a huge influence” on the campaign. Trump also vowed to establish a commission on presidential assassination attempts, releasing all remaining documents related to JFK’s assassination.
Kennedy’s decision sparked strong reactions, particularly from his own family. His sister Kerry Kennedy, along with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy, publicly condemned the endorsement as a “betrayal” of their father’s and family’s values. They called the decision “a sad ending to a sad story.” They also voiced their support for the Democratic ticket of Harris and Walz.
Kennedy’s wife, actress Cheryl Hines, was also reportedly uncomfortable with the decision, though she thanked volunteers for their efforts during the campaign.
Kennedy clarified that while he was suspending his campaign, he would remain on the ballot in non-competitive states but would remove his name in battleground states to avoid being a spoiler.
He held out a distant hope of still being considered in the event of a contingent election if neither Trump nor Kamala Harris wins the necessary 270 electoral votes.
Reactions to Kennedy’s endorsement were mixed. Some of his supporters felt frustrated, having viewed him as an alternative to the two-party system, while others saw his decision as aligning with his past views.
