Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Drops Out Of Presidential Race
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday dropped his independent presidential bid and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump , a day after Kennedy withdrew from the ballot in Arizona.
Kennedy was expected to make the announcement at a speech in Phoenix on Friday afternoon, but a Pennsylvania court filing earlier in the day confirmed he would withdraw and endorse Trump .
Rumors about the campaign had swirled since Tuesday, when RFK Jr.’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said on a podcast that the two were exploring their options for the race.
“One is staying in, forming that new party but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Tim] Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump or we draw somehow more votes from Trump,” Shanahan told Tom Bilyeu, the host of “Impact Theory.”
“Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump, and we walk away from that, and we explain to our base why we’re making this decision,” she continued.
The Washington Post previously reported that Kennedy asked for a high-level role in the Trump administration in exchange for his endorsement. Trump signaled an openness to the possibility in a CNN interview earlier this week.
Kennedy tried to negotiate a similar agreement with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris but the vice president’s team showed no interest , he told The New York Times .
The long-shot candidate saw national polling numbers as high as 16% this spring, though they’ve fallen below 5% in recent months as the campaign failed to find purchase.
Kennedy’s campaign wasn’t helped by numerous reports of past behavior that led him to respond to accusations of sexual assault from the family’s former nanny, deny a Vanity Fair story about having eaten a dog (he says it was a goat), breathe life into 9/11 conspiracy theories, own up to having dumped a dead bear cub in Central Park, and confirm a parasitic worm ate a portion of his brain.
He endorsed Trump in the "swing states", saying that in the blue states he still wants people to vote for him.
He and Trump are kindred spirits, erratic, confused and confusing individuals who love conspiracy theories and personal wackiness.
His actions will have a negligible effect on the election.
Your partisanship is showing again. He actually is staying on the ballots in both red and blue states in the hopes that should neither major candidate reach the 270 electoral votes needed, the race is then shifted to the House and he kind of hopes he might win the Oval Office that route. He's working to remove himself from the ballots in battleground states only and hoping that his followers instead vote for Trump.
He said he would endorse Kamala if she offered him a cabinet position.
He gave his three reasons for endorsing Trump but I can only remember two of them, Ukraine and something to do with "the kids".
Maybe Putin will give him a job.
Pretty much confirms that RKF Jr. is irrational.
He's fucking nuts.
RFK Jr. is looking for a platform (a way "In"). Donald plans to give that to him. . . should he succeed this fall. Which is interesting see that Donald lied (it must be a day ending in 'y') when he told his rally-goers this:
And yes, it is another day ending in Y. And Donald (mothball) wants whatever 'new' votes he can get! That quote of his above is just bravado.
And now, Donald gets to make a fool out of a Kennedy. That bears repeating. A scion of the Kennedy family has 'bent the knee' to a lying , cheating , conniving , manipulative builder of alternative realities who is willing to corrupt our systems of government for his personal and non-democratic reasons. And Trumpists 'bless this mess!'
but I know TiG, you generally don't use such terms. You have far more decorum than I.
RFK has suspended his campaign and in a powerful speech condemned the corruption of the democrat party.
He is remaining on the ballot in key certain states, and he endorsed Donald Trump.
Donald Trump was giving a speech in Nevada right after that news broke. Trump was talking about his no tax on tips plan when he acknowledged the endorsement. He said he is still trying to figure out the DNC process. He said, "Biden got 14 million votes and is sitting on a beach somewhere as mad as hell and she got zero votes and got the nomination."
I'm still laughing!
And not Trump, the king of corruption? More proof RFK isnt all there.
Every family has a crazy uncle, I'm sure he will fit right in with Donald's brand of lunacy.
Running to Trump because the Ds are too corrupt? This guy needs help.
Kind of makes me wonder why Democrats got so worked up and wanted him off ballots.
He is no threat or help to anyone.
He's only running to Trump because Trump didn't turn him down flat. He's pretty much announced that his support is for sale to the highest bidder, or, lacking an actual bidder, the candidate who didn't outright reject his "services".
And he's not even embarrassed that we all know that, which is pretty pathetic.
Well, most of us know that.
It is obvious why the Ds initially did not want him around. This was and is a close election and as a former D he was seen as a spoiler for Biden. Later it looked as though he was drawing from both and thus became less of an issue for the Ds.
RFK Jr. is pissed because the Ds did not value his candidacy.
One thing, he just added a bit more 'weird' to the GOP ticket ... Walz' coining has been emboldened.
So you think RFK could siphon votes from one so astute, brave, patriotic, wise, compassionate, and wonderful as Biden.
Weird that anyone considering Biden could have picked anyone else, or at least that seems to be the theory espoused here regularly.
Anyone who talks about 'defending democracy' should not work to keep people OFF a ballot, they should present a stronger case for themselves.
I don't give a damn what Kennedy is pissed off about. He is a nothing politically (except to Democrats, apparently).
Why are you having a problem understanding how a former, notable D would be seen initially as a spoiler? This is obvious.
You assume way too often about me.
Maybe because I have been told repeatedly that Biden was the "only" logical choice and everything was to be sacrificed to keep Trump out of office.
If Biden was the only logical choice, then Democrats would vote for Biden (as evidenced by him winning every single state primary). After all, he was healthy, spry, energetic as someone 30 years younger, and as sharp as a tack BESIDES being the incumbent which would carry more weight than RFK could ever in 2 lives.
Yet, despite being assured that Biden was just fine and the party's best (only) choice Democrats worked to keep RFK off ballots. Seems anyone rational enough to vote for Biden would never consider RFK or Trump, if the rationale we have seen is to be used. And since we have been told irrational people would vote for Trump, then the irrational folks would already be spoken for leaving all the rational ones to vote for Biden.
What it really sounds like to me is that the Democratic Party knew all along that Biden was unfit and tried to mitigate damage by keeping anyone they could off ballots.
The Ds knew Biden was not a strong candidate. Thus they would naturally seek to dissuade any potential third party spoiler in a tight election.
I doubt that the Ds considered Biden unfit; that is typical partisan hyperbole.
Objectively, this is obvious.
I just love Walz and Walz's family - he is a family man - the love in that family is so obvious - and refreshing and so welcome.
When Gus Walz said in tears 'that's my dad' - the love
- I was in tears also - those with feelings and empathy were as well.
No way. He absolutely cannot siphon even a simgle vote away from Biden!
Why?
Because Biden is not running!!!
DUH!
RFK endorsement of the Republican side seems more vindictive than anything. Kind of like, "if the Dems don't want me, then I'll show them!"
Agreed. He's flouncing from the room, to little effect other than providing amusement to the people who knew him well enough to let him leave.
I think you've got it Gordy.
RFK JR made the unforgivable mistake of challenging Joe Biden in the primary at a time when democrat leaders wanted everyone to fall in line. His own family attacked him. Every word he said was true about the democrats. They challenged every step he took. When he got signatures to get on state ballots the DNC challenged him. Finally, when his campaign became impractical, he went where?
He went to Harris first. She snubbed him because he was no longer welcome in the democrat party.
So, yes, he is acting out of revenge and yes, it will be a big deal in battleground states.
You just like whatever you think will benefit trump.
RFK Jr. is an eccentric , erratic individual who believes conspiracy theories and has a soft spot for Putin's Russia.
We already have one of those in national politics and the Democrats were not about to enable another one.
The democrats were happy to enable an old man in cognitive decline, while hiding it from the American people.
What they refused to allow was dissent.
I think he is indeed acting out of revenge and I doubt this will have any significant impact on the election.
Revenge & Retribution - trump and today's gop
In the states that matter it won't take many votes to tip the scales.
I thought we were talking about a Kennedy?
Correct and I do not see Kennedy being a factor.
I may be wrong-- but my guess is that most of the "people in battleground states" will mostly vote the same way as most of the people in "Non-battleground states" will vote.
The one they prefer (which at this point in almost all cases is either Trump or Harris).
I suspect RFKs impact on the election outcome will be minimal.
Hey, Y'all. Watch this...
Why on earth are Democrats afraid of freaking Kennedy, of all people?
The man is a fruitcake, and IF he could manage to glean any votes from ANY candidate, I would question those voters' intelligence.
Trump has proven that people will vote for highly flawed individuals.
RFK proved they will vote for Democrats, too.
Seems about right.
flawed individuals, LOL bat shit crazy is more fitting.
My Gawd, two of a kind traveling through their parallel universe without their diapers.
Democratys afraid of Kennedy?
Link please!!!
What's to be afraid of?
Fear itself
He is Democratic Royalty and a lifelong Democrat. By the Kinzinger Principle, anyone who disagrees with him isn't a true democrat.
"How did the Democratic party choose a candidate that has never done an interview or a debate during the entire election cycle? We know the answers. They did it by weaponizing government agencies...abandoning democracy...suing the opposition, and by disenfranchising American voters."
I assume when you are referring to "the entire election cycle" you mean the current one-- not the cycle of 4 or 8 years ago.
So in this election cycle, the Dems nominated a candidate-- that was 2 days ago.
So perhaps the new Democratic candidate will do a debate aand/or an interview very late in the current election cycle.
She may even wait for a long time-- maybe even a full week or two after she was chosen as the nominee!
(Oh-- the horror!)
I heard his speech. He sounds like someone who had part of his brain eaten by a worm, which explains a lot of the support for Trump.
Did you hear the bear story? What a whackjob.
Yes.
He's so weird.
RFK is so weird-- he even makes JD "Childless Cat Ladies" Vance look half normal!
Abby Normal
This one Kennedy has lost his damn mind, and by doing so, has become a threat to this democratic republic sustaining itself. His family should come out in droves (as some have done and should do more) and counter their 'own.' What we have here is a renown family's internal political 'problem' breaking out into the public. It must not go unanswered, nevertheless!
There is a first for everything it's clear: a Kennedy (in today's world) who rebuffs international freedom and domestic democracy to stand with a lying, cheating, autocratic-minded, narcissist. Never thought I would see this day. Well, it's here!
Have you noticed that Trump does not seem to understand that RFK Jr. does not go by the name of Bobby? 'Bobby' is how we refer to his father. RFK Jr. goes by the name 'Robert'.
Trump repeatedly refers to RFK Jr. as 'Bobby' so this is not just a slip of the tongue. Basic details ... does he not get prepped on facts about a person he considers a major endorsement?
This is a nit, but I found it to be notably curious.
It's a power-play. It's how Donald conveys across to RFK Jr. that he needs him to be "Bobby" for his purposes. (To 'magically' peal off some democrats through the invoking of the Kennedy legacy.)
Of course, 'heeled' by Donald means "Bobby Jr." will play along. . . at least until the election and campaign cycle ends. Although, those who knew (of) the Late Senator Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy (deceased 1968) would know that "Jr." is out of alignment with his dad's politics (of civil rights advocacy and ending corruption).
Apparently Donald thinks there is still enough 'strength' in the Kennedy brand to do some 'useful' harm to Kamala and her capacity to pull some 'never Trumpers.' In which case, Donald is using RFK Jr. to hit back at Kamala's reach into the GOP wheelhouse.
Personally, I suspect he thinks RFK Jr. goes by the name 'Bobby'.
Or, Donald (Mothball) is just very old and has confused the deceased father with his living son. /s
Could also be a bit of both but who knows with someone so demented?
I doubt he can be bothered to learn or remember such details, if he can't use them to invent an insult.
that too
I am watching Kaitlin Colllins' The Source and Kerry Kennedy (RFK's daughter, RFK Jr.'s sister) is calling him "Bobby" on the air. It is a familial name, apparently.
When all is said and done, RFK Jr is done and he will make no difference in this campaign.
The only good he has done by joining the Trump campaign, IMO, is to illustrate that Walz' label of weird is now even more spot on.
That remains to be seen.
He might just earn that HHS job.
It just gets weirder and weirder with the weirdos in the trump universe.
Something about family and the trump universe - I heard something vance said in a podcast - he was in a hotel somewhere with his family and trump called him about him being picked as his VP and his 7-year-old son who is big on Pokemon was saying something to him and vance said 'would you shut the hell up about Pikachu for 30 seconds, this is a very important call from trump.'
Such a family man!
I don't think Trump will give RFK Jr a job IF he wins (hope not). If RFK Jr believes Trump, that just enforces he is totally "out of it".
Indeed. It is amazing at this point with all we know and the many examples of same that anyone believes any promise made by Trump.
When RFK Jr was nine years old his uncle, The President of the United States of America, was assassinated on live TV. When RFK Jr was fourteen his Father, the former US Attorney General and sitting United States Senator who was the leading candidate for President, was assassinated on live TV. He did a lot of drugs and has been married three times. Famous as a conspiracy theorist and vaccine denier RFK Jr is the perfect next MAGA Superstar!
Funny how none of that mattered and he was a Democrat in good standing until he tried to for President as a Democrat . Obama even considered him for the head of the EPA.
He has been a known nutter for decades!
No shit. That's my point.
Nature, nurture and privalege failed the boy.
It was a private family matter before now.
Like Trumps cover-up Jr's cocaine usage!
You said he was a known nutter for decades. I agreed with you.
e Trumps cover-up Jr's cocaine usage!
Wouldn't Obama being an admitted coke fiend in college be the better comparison?
What do those have to do with the two most influential men in his life getting their brains blown out on live television?
Boy Ain't Right! He never had a chance.
The Kennedy family had protected him.
I could care less about RFK Jr and the only reason MAGA did was because they hoped he would help Ole El Trumpo win.
He will not so the MAGA are trashing him.
Which is punching down. Dude ain't right!
Are you MAGA now? Did you already forget your own posts in this seed?
Democrats, including his own family, are trashing him.
Neither were shot because of Junior.
That is dumb! Of course not. He was a kid!
You asked the question.
Then it was an exceedingly dumb yet typical response...
[✘]
People are VETTED for the presidency. It's a very SERIOUS consideration. It should not be offered or turned over easily or haphazardly. Which begs the question that the collective "you" permit Donald so many opportunities to hold and repeat submitting his 'application' for the office of president of the United States.
It is funny to see the Kennedy family unite to denounce RFK. Leaving a young woman to drown, rape and begging the Soviet Union for help in an election among a thousand other crimes are all fine and dandy for the Kennedy family, but to endorse a Republican??? That's worthy of denouncing him.
Not Funny!
Maybe it's more sad than funny.
It explains why they are held in such high regard by the Democratic party. As long as a Kennedy remains loyal to the Democratic Party, they are a "good Kennedy." Doesn't matter how many women they kill, assault, rape etc....
MAGAs should worry about the MAGA's own dysfunctional MAGA party and dysfunctional MAGA family who own the MAGA! MAGA!
This is a seed about RFK JR.
RFK Jr Endorsed Trump. He's MAGA now!