Independent candidate for President of the United States Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is suspending his campaign and has expressed his support for the Republican candidate for the White House, Donald Trump. Kennedy made the announcement during a speech in Arizona on Friday.
“I am not ending my campaign. I simply suspended her,” Kennedy said. He added that he has started a process that will lead to the deletion of his name from the candidates in ten American states, which tend to be crucial for the outcome of presidential elections. “I no longer believe in my heart that I have a realistic path to electoral victory,” Kennedy explained.
To end his candidacy in the so-called swing states, i.e. states that are not long-term strongholds of one or the other major political party and which tend to be decisive in the American electoral system, Kennedy decided not to contribute to the victory of Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris in the November elections. Kennedy, on the other hand, wants to keep his name on the ballots in states that are traditionally Democratic strongholds.
Trump is scheduled to speak at a campaign rally in Glendale, Arizona, in a few hours, and his campaign said he will be a “special guest” at the event. The Trump campaign did not respond to the AP’s question whether it was Kennedy who was invited.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the nephew of the assassinated US President John F. Kennedy. He is dedicated to the protection of the environment, during the covid-19 pandemic he spoke out against vaccination and supported some conspiracy theories. He originally wanted to challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, but switched to running as an independent.
The US media has speculated that Kennedy is going to support Trump and end the campaign in recent days, as Kennedy’s running mate Nicole Shanahan hinted at it in an interview. The AP reported on Friday that Kennedy’s campaign had asked to be removed from the ballot in Pennsylvania.
Kennedy’s leaning toward Trump could bring new voters to the Republican nominee this late in the presidential campaign. However, according to AP, this increase in support would not be significant at all.
