RFK Jr. suspends 2024 campaign; will support Donald Trump
WATCH: RFK Jr. endorses Trump, suspends campaign
Speaking in Phoenix, Arizona, RFK Jr. announced he would be suspending his campaign and endorsing Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump. Before taking the podium, RFK Jr. announced the news in a Pennsylvania court filing. Trump is expected to visit Glendale, Arizona later in the evening for a campaign rally, and has announced a "special guest" would be joining him Friday night.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he is suspending his 2024 campaign.
Kennedy Jr. made an announcement during a speech in Phoenix on Friday, hours before Trump is set to hold a rally in Glendale, Arizona.
"In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory," Kennedy Jr. said. "So I cannot in good conscious ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House."
Kennedy Jr. went on to say that he was not necessarily terminating his campaign but that he was "simply suspending it."
"My name will remain on the ballot in most states," Kennedy Jr. said. He went on to explain that if voters lived in a blue state where his name appeared on the ballot, voting for him would in no way harm or hurt Vice President Kamala Harris or Trump's chances.
"In red states, the same will apply," he added.
Ahead of the planned speech, Kennedy Jr.'s campaign said in a Pennsylvania court filing earlier on Friday that he is endorsing Trump for president.
Kennedy's independent campaign also requested that he be removed from the Pennsylvania ballot.
RELATED: RFK Jr. reportedly planning on dropping out of presidential race, supporting Trump
RFK Jr. endorsing Trump
Kennedy during his speech formally endorsed Trump for president.
Both the Kennedy and Trump campaigns have suggested publicly that they could be open to teaming up, with the goal of limiting the election chances of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Trump and Kennedy have been in regular contact in recent weeks, including a meeting in Milwaukee as Republicans gathered for their national convention in July.
The Republican presidential candidate told CNN on Tuesday that he would "love" an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a "brilliant guy." He also said he would "certainly" be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy drops out and endorses him, the Associated Press reported.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Libertarian National Convention on May 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Why did RFK Jr. exit the election race?
Trump allies quietly encouraged Kennedy Jr. to endorse the Republican nominee if he withdrew from the campaign for the White House, the Associated Press reported.
Kennedy’s running mate openly discussed the possibility of his leaving the race on a podcast this week, saying the campaign was considering a move to "join forces" with Trump to limit the election chance of Vice President Kamala Harris, who officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination.
RFK Jr.’s presidential run
After leaving the Democratic primary to run as an independent, Kennedy built an unusually strong base of support for someone running without the backing of a major party. It was unclear exactly where his support was coming from, which worried Republicans and Democrats alike.
RELATED: 15 members of Kennedy family endorse Biden in rebuke to RFK Jr.
But since President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and Democrats coalesced around Vice President Harris as their nominee, Kennedy's rise has been stunted. It looks increasingly unlikely that he will be able to make the debate stage when Trump and Harris face off next month, a moment Kennedy counted on for momentum and legitimacy. His campaign finances have also been strained.
RFK Jr.’s legal battles
A New York Judge ruled recently that Kennedy should not appear on the presidential ballot in the state because he listed a "sham" address on nominating petitions. Kennedy appealed the ruling but has faced several similar challenges across the country.
Kennedy was in a courtroom Wednesday in a suburb of New York City, testifying in a trial for another ballot suit in the state, this one supported by the Democratic National Committee, which challenges the signatures collected by his campaign.
RELATED: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run for president as independent and drop his Democratic primary bid
He is also facing a potential legal challenge in Arizona, where last week he submitted signatures that may have been collected by a super PAC that supports him, which Kennedy's critics say is illegal coordination between a candidate and an independent political group.
Who is RFK Jr.?
Kennedy is a member of the nation’s most famous political dynasty. His uncle was President John F. Kennedy and his father served as attorney general and a U.S. senator before seeking the Democratic nomination for president. Both were assassinated.
RFK Jr. built a reputation of his own as an activist, author, and lawyer who fought for environmental causes such as clean water. The AP noted that his activism has veered into conspiracies and contradicted scientific consensus, most infamously on vaccines.