Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends presidential campaign

IIndependent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign Friday, in a move he said was aimed at ensuring Democrats do not win the White House.

“In my heart, I no longer believe I have a realistic path to electoral victory,” Kennedy said.

He said he would now support former President Donald Trump on three main issues: free speech, the war in Ukraine and what he called “the war on our children.”

Kennedy announced his decision in Arizona, where he filed paperwork to remove his name from the ballot earlier this week. In his speech, he thanked campaign volunteers and staff and derided the political system and the Democratic Party. “In an honest system, I think I would have won the election,” he said.

A member of one of America’s most prominent political dynasties, Kennedy became known for his bizarre personal stories and his promotion of conspiracy theories, particularly around vaccines. He entered the race as a Democrat, intending to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden, but later dropped out of the Democratic primary to run as an independent. (Biden himself withdrew from the presidential race in July.) Kennedy’s campaign has failed to maintain its momentum: A CBS poll earlier this month found his approval ratings hovering at just 2%.

Kennedy said he did not want to be a spoiler in the tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, who accepted the Democratic nomination at the party’s convention this week.

“Our polls have consistently shown that by staying on the ballot in key states, I would likely hand the election to Democrats with whom I disagree on the most existential issues: censorship, war and chronic disease,” he said.

Kennedy said he would remove his name from the ballot in key states and suspend his campaign activities, but would remain on the ballot in less competitive states. “I want everyone to know that I’m not ending my campaign. I’m just suspending it, I’m not ending it,” he said.

Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would consider giving Kennedy a role in his second administration if he stepped down and supported him. “I didn’t know he was considering stepping down, but if he’s thinking about it, I would certainly be open to that idea,” Trump said.