Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once a Democratic Party insider and longtime environmental lawyer that has become a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, told an Arizona audience about the unexpected tale of friendship — and lawsuits — involving the former president that changed his stance.
The story, shared during a campaign stop for Trump that perfectly highlighted the changes in Kennedy’s political journey.
Speaking at Arizona Christian University in Glendale on Saturday, Kennedy appeared alongside former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as part of “Team Trump’s Reclaim America Tour.”
“On two occasions I sued him,” Kennedy told the audience to laughter.
Trump “was trying to build a golf course in the New York City watershed, and I sued him successfully to stop that,” RFK, Jr. continued. “At one point, my wife at the time … wanted to go to Palm Beach for the weekend to see my mom over Easter. I didn’t want to buy a ticket for all the kids, but she said, ‘What if I found a free ride?'”
“I didn’t think she was going to do it, but then she said she found a ride,” Kennedy continued. “I said, ‘Who?’ and she said, ‘Donald Trump’ and I said, ‘But, I’m suing him!?'”
“He told me he knows you’re suing him, but it’s okay anyway,” Kennedy said his wife explained to laughter from the crowd.
“I ended up flying down with him, and having a great time, ” RFK, Jr. said. “I still sued him.”
The event, which drew about 600 attendees, was moderated by Jessica Reed Kraus, a political columnist best known for her @houseinhabit Substack account.
Kennedy also shared that Trump has changed, too —
After the night that he called me after he got shot in Butler, one of the first things he said to me, ‘Are you a religious person?’ And I said, ‘Well, you know, I have a deep belief in God. The spirituality which is the central organizing force in my life.’
And he said, ‘You know, I think I believe in that too now.’
Kennedy, who ended his own independent presidential bid to back Trump, has taken to the campaign trail in support of the 45th president.
Kennedy and Gabbard, both former Democrats, used the event to explain their shift towards supporting Trump.
They painted a dire picture of the United States and global affairs, positioning Trump as the candidate who could end “continual war” and combat what they described as the “systematic weaponization of government.”
Kennedy had previously submitted signatures to appear on the Arizona ballot as an independent candidate but successfully withdrew his name last month.
He explained his decision to end his campaign to the Arizona crowd, saying it became clear that staying in the race might inadvertently help elect a candidate he believes would be “easily manipulated by the deep state.”
During the event, Kennedy also made a surprising revelation about what he calls a ‘deep state’ investigation into his past.
He claimed that shortly after endorsing Trump, he received a letter from the National Marine Fisheries Institute investigating him for “collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago” — well past the statute of limitations.
Kennedy said the timing of the probe seems politically motivated.
Despite their past differences, the alliance between Kennedy and Trump appears to be strengthening. At a recent rally, Trump praised Kennedy as “a phenomenal person” who deeply loves the country. This sentiment was echoed in Kennedy’s continued support and campaign efforts for the former president.