Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and endorsed Republican nominee former President Donald Trump.
“In the name of saving democracy, the Democratic Party has set itself to dismantling it,” Kennedy, 70 said at a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Friday.
He claimed the DNC engaged in “continual legal warfare against both President Trump and myself.”
Kennedy condemned the Democrats’ 2024 primary as a “sham primary” that was “rigged.” He also condemned President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race last month as a “palace coup.”
“The same shadowy DNC operatives appointed his successor, also without an election,”” Kennedy said.
“In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to victory,” he added, saying that he “cannot in good conscience” ask for his volunteers and donors to support him.
He also said he disagrees with Democrats on “most existential issues.” He further encouraged supporters in blue states to vote for him. In ten battleground states, however, he announced he will remove his name and encouraged voters not to vote for him.
Kennedy said he’s supporting Trump due to his concern for “free speech, war in Ukraine, and war on our children.”
Kennedy, who was running as an independent candidate, withdrew from the ballot in Arizona late Thursday, which many said signaled his impending exit from the race.
The nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, RFK is an environmental activist and vaccine skeptic. He has vowed to end the war in Ukraine war and slash the military budget.
Kennedy launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination in April and switched to run as an Independent candidate in October, garnering attacks from the Trump campaign that he is a member of the “radical left.” Trump told CNN Tuesday he would “love” a Kennedy endorsement and is open to Kennedy working in his administration if he drops out and endorses him.