Kennedy Jr. Points Finger at Media for Campaign Struggles

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. blames mainstream media and social media censorship for his campaign’s failures, suspending his candidacy and endorsing Donald Trump.

At a Glance

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is suspending his independent presidential candidacy and endorsing Donald Trump.
Kennedy is seeking to remove his name from ballots in battleground states to avoid drawing votes away from Trump.
Kennedy’s campaign faced significant access challenges but was the most successful independent ballot effort in 30 years.
Kennedy’s support dropped from around 15% to low single digits in national election polls.
Kennedy criticized the media and Democratic Party for perceived slights against his campaign.

Kennedy Suspends Campaign, Endorses Trump

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially suspended his independent presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump. Citing relentless media and social media censorship, Kennedy blamed these factors for severely limiting his campaign’s reach and effectiveness.

Kennedy revealed having extensive conversations with Trump about the detrimental impact of restricted speech on democratic processes and electoral success. “In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path of electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control,” he said.

Access Challenges and Ballot Removal

Kennedy’s campaign encountered significant hurdles in gaining access to state ballots. Nevertheless, it remains the most successful independent effort in 30 years. Despite this, Kennedy’s support in national election polls plummeted from around 15% to the low single digits.

“Sixteen months of censorship, of not being able to get on any network really except for Fox,” Kennedy remarked. “When Ross Perot ran, in the 10 months that he ran, he had 34 appearances on the networks. I had two appearances in 16 months, so I was blocked out of the networks, and I was blocked out of the debate. I had no path to victory.”

To avoid siphoning votes away from Trump in critical battleground states, Kennedy is seeking to remove his name from ballots. “I want everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign. I’m simply suspending it, not ending it,” he clarified.

Family Tensions and Campaign Highlights

Kennedy’s decision to support Trump has stirred tensions within his family. Five of his relatives issued a statement calling his endorsement “a sad ending to a sad story” and pledged their support for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. “Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold dear,” they declared.

Kennedy’s campaign initially began as a challenge to President Biden in the Democratic primary before switching to an independent run. Despite polling in double digits for over a year, Kennedy failed to capitalize on public dissatisfaction with both Trump and Biden. The campaign, plagued by financial and legal issues, ended July with $3.9 million cash on hand and $3.4 million in debt.

Future Prospects and Conversations with Trump

Kennedy has spoken with Trump about potential roles in a future administration. His running mate, Nicole Shanahan, has suggested that Kennedy could join Trump’s administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. “We proved them wrong,” Kennedy said in a campaign stop in Phoenix. “Beneath the radar of mainstream media organs, we inspired a massive independent political movement.”

Kennedy’s internal polls indicated that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and assist Harris. Trump’s eventual realization that Kennedy posed a threat rather than an ally led to a shift in strategy and the current endorsement.