Kennedy Ends Presidential Campaign, Backs Trump

AFP/APP

Phoenix: Robert F Kennedy Jr, a member of America’s storied political dynasty, suspended his unlikely presidential campaign on Friday and endorsed former President Donald Trump, adding a new layer of unpredictability to the ongoing White House race.

“I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory,” Kennedy announced at a press conference in Arizona, a key swing state.

Known for his anti-vaccine stance and controversial conspiracy theories, Kennedy had been polling in the low single digits and struggled to gain traction.

Kennedy, 70, criticised the Democratic Party’s decision to select Vice President Kamala Harris as their nominee without holding a primary contest.

He expressed several grievances with his former party, stating, “I now throw my support to President Trump.”

Kennedy’s independent campaign was marked by a series of unusual episodes, including his claim of suffering from a parasitic brain worm and an incident involving the deposit of a dead bear cub in Central Park.

His bid for the presidency failed to secure ballot access in even half of the US states. Kennedy’s decision to endorse Trump also drew sharp criticism from his own family.

“Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear,” five of his siblings stated in a joint statement, in which they endorsed Harris. “It is a sad ending to a sad story.”

Kennedy’s withdrawal came just a day after Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where she accepted the party’s nomination.

Harris, buoyed by a surge in support, is now focused on the final 10-week stretch leading up to election day on November 5.

When asked by reporters what was next as she boarded Air Force Two for Washington, Harris replied confidently, “Win. We’re going to win.”