Right this moment, impartial candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
“I’m not terminating my marketing campaign, I’m merely suspending it, not ending it,” stated Kennedy. “My title will stay on the poll in most states.”
However Kennedy stated that after “deep prayer,” he had determined to throw his assist behind former president Donald Trump and can be becoming a member of his marketing campaign. He stated his fervent concern about continual illness, and Trump’s guarantees to deal with these points if elected, finally formed his determination.
“I solely have possibly 10 extra years to be efficient,” Kennedy stated. “If President Trump is elected and honors his phrase, the huge burden of continual illness that burdens and bankrupts the nation will disappear.”
Earlier than endorsing Trump, Kennedy famous that he may nonetheless win in a contingent election, however that he would take away his title from the poll within the 10 states the place his candidacy may act as a spoiler. “If you happen to dwell in a blue state you may vote for me,” he stated. “I encourage you to vote for me.”
Kennedy additionally used his speech to accuse the Democratic Nationwide Committee (DNC) of waging authorized warfare towards himself and former president Donald Trump, evaluating Biden and the group to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. He took purpose at Harris for not doing unscripted interviews with the press, whereas he and Trump have.
“Are we nonetheless a job mannequin for democracy on this nation, or have we made it form of a joke?” he requested. Kennedy famous that he was compelled to depart the race when it grew to become clear that he would “hand the election to the Democratic Occasion.”
Indications that Kennedy and Trump have been inching towards a political alliance has been constructing for months. In July, Kennedy traveled to the Republican Nationwide Conference, the place a video of Trump and Kennedy showing to debate a potential 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, recommended in a podcast look that he might drop out and endorse the previous president.
In a Thursday post on X, Shanahan stated that Democrats are “frightened of the concept of our motion becoming a member of forces with Donald Trump.”
“MAGA Republicans elevated RFK Jr.’s sham candidacy as a device to mislead voters and damage Democrats, and RFK Jr.’s exit is an admission their gambit failed,” DNC spokesperson Ramsey Reid stated 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 impartial in October 2023, and gave the impression to be a potential spoiler candidate who may meaningfully influence the outcomes of the election. All through his marketing campaign, Kennedy appeared to have mastered the artwork of taking on no matter digital space was offered to him. He appeared on podcasts and in TikTok Lives, and courted crypto donors. When he was not supplied a spot on the talk stage alongside Trump and President Joe Biden, Kennedy hosted a parallel debate, streamed on-line and on X, considered by over 9 million people.
