In a dramatic turn of events, longtime Democratic Party royalty Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign and thrown his support behind former President Donald Trump — and on Sunday, he offered a stirring defense of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.
The announcement, made Friday in Arizona, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape and the impact the endorsement will have on the 2024 race.
Kennedy, speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” outlined his plans to actively campaign for Trump.
“I’m going to be campaigning actively,” he stated. “I think President Trump will make a series of announcements with other Democrats who are joining his campaign.”
The former Democratic candidate also defended the “MAGA” movement, offering his own interpretation of its meaning.
“Make America Great Again’ recalls a nation brimming with vitality, with a can-do spirit, with hope and a belief in itself,” Kennedy wrote on social media platform X.
What "MAGA" really means
The phrase has troubled liberals who think it is a call for a return to an America before civil rights, gay rights, and women's rights. But I have a more generous interpretation, one that is truer to my experience of Donald Trump as he is today. "Make…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 25, 2024
Central to Kennedy’s decision is the concept of a “unity government,” which he claims Trump invited him to form. “We agreed to be able to continue to criticize each other on issues on which we don’t agree,” Kennedy explained, adding that Trump committed to helping him on key issues like ending the war in Ukraine and combating censorship.
Despite his endorsement, Kennedy plans to remain on the ballot in approximately 30 non-competitive states, only withdrawing from 10 swing states where he could potentially act as a spoiler to the Trump campaign.
The impact of Kennedy’s endorsement on the race remains uncertain. FiveThirtyEight’s analysis suggests the effect may be minimal, with Kennedy drawing roughly equally from both Trump and Harris supporters before his withdrawal.
However, Trump’s campaign pollsters claim they are already seeing Kennedy’s supporters breaking towards the former president.
Kennedy’s family, longtime stalwarts of the Democratic Party, have publicly denounced his decision. His sister, Kerry Kennedy, expressed being “outraged and disgusted” by the endorsement.
All eyes will now be on how Kennedy’s surprise move will reshape the electoral landscape.
With promises of more additions to Trump’s “unity government” on the horizon, this unexpected alliance could yet yield further surprises in an already unpredictable election season.