The Kennedy family has sharply criticized their brother Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his support of Donald Trump in the US presidential election campaign, calling it a “betrayal” of their values.
Mr. Kennedy, also known as RFK Jr., announced that he would suspend his independent presidential campaign to support the Republican candidate in certain states.
“In about 10 swing states where my presence would be a spoiler, I will withdraw my name, and I have already begun the process,” Kennedy said during a press conference in Phoenix.
RFK, whose father Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 while running for president, said the Democratic Party is no longer a “supporter of the constitution” and has “dramatically” distanced himself from the “basic values” with which he grew up.
Mr. Kennedy is also the nephew of former Democratic U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.
RFK was 14 when his father, former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, JFK’s brother, was killed.
In response to RFK Jr.’s announcement, his brothers and sisters released a statement saying, “We want an America full of hope and united by a shared vision of a better future, a future marked by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride.”
“We believe in Harris and Walz.
“Our brother Bobby’s decision to support Trump today is a betrayal of the values that are most important to our father and our family.
“It’s a sad end to a sad story.”
“In an honest system I would have won”
RFK Jr. attacked the media and Democrats in his announcement, saying his campaign had “performed a miracle” by making him the presidential candidate.
“You have shown everyone that democracy is still possible here,” he said. “Today I am here to tell you that I will not allow your efforts to be in vain.”
Mr Kennedy added that he believed he would have won the election in an “honest system”.
He criticized the Democratic Party, saying it had waged a “legal war” against him and Mr Trump, who is running against the vice president. Kamala Harris be elected in the presidential elections on November 5.
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During his speech, Kennedy also took aim at Mrs Harris. who officially accepted her nomination as a Democrat and argued that she had evaded scrutiny and interviews.
He also said of the Democrats: “Who needs politics when you can hate Trump?”
According to Sky News’ sister channel NBC, Mr Kennedy will speak at a Trump rally later in the day.
The news that he is supporting the 78-year-old former Republican leader comes after Mr Trump appeared woo Mr Kennedy last month.
In footage shared by Kennedy’s son, Trump says, “I would love for you to do something – and I think it would be so good and so great for you,” apparently referring to the 2024 election campaign.
Mr Trump added: “We will win,” to which Mr Kennedy replied: “Yes.”
Reports of Kennedy’s decision had previously surfaced in court documents filed by the 70-year-old’s campaign team.
According to AP, a court filing in Pennsylvania called for his removal from the state’s ballot.
And on Thursday, Arizona state officials said Kennedy had filed paperwork to withdraw from the state’s presidential election.
Anti-vaccination and turn against Democrats
Despite his family’s history with the Democratic Party, RFK Jr. ran as an independent after leaving the Democrats in October.
Mr Kennedy has made a name for himself as an anti-vaccination campaigner during the pandemic – and even before.
In addition to spreading misinformation online, Mr. Kennedy also regularly participated in demonstrations against the mandate during the coronavirus response.
At one event, he compared the US government’s vaccination regulations to the laws in Nazi Germany.
“Even in Hitler’s Germany you could cross the Alps into Switzerland, you could hide in an attic like Anne Frank did,” he told the crowd at a march in January 2022.
“Today the mechanisms are being set in motion that will ensure that none of us can run away and none of us can hide.”
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