First rally together

US Presidential, Kennedy Jr: 'Trump and I different but there are common battles'

Kennedy Jr, speaking in Phoenix, announced that he is removing his name from presidential ballots in 10 states but encouraged people to vote for him where his name appears.

23 August 2024

Aggiungi Il Sole 24 Ore
ai preferiti su Google

Robert F. Kennedy e Donald Trump al comizio in Arizona il 24 agosto. EPA/ALLISON DINNER

4' min read

Greeted by warm applause from Donald Trump's fans at a rally in Arizona, independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. acknowledged their ideological differences, but also said their values overlapped in 'having safe food and ending the epidemic of chronic disease'. "Don't you want chemicals removed from our food?" Kennedy told the crowd. "Don't you want a president who will get us out of wars and rebuild the middle class?" he added.

The step backwards

In freefall in the polls and in fundraising, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Bob Kennedy's 70-year-old son and Jfk's grandson, announced in Phoenix that he is suspending the White House race and giving his endorsement to Donald Trump, in return ventilating a seat in his eventual administration.

Perhaps - according to some in the media - as health secretary, despite being a 'no vax' conspiracy activist (like the tycoon after all), or at the head of some federal agency.

Rfk explained that he intends to remove his name from the ballots in 10 swing states (already done in Arizona and Pennsylvania), so as not to act as a 'spoiler', and encouraged people to vote for him in the others where he remains in the race.

The support for Trump

But he chose to support the tycoon for some common battles, such as freedom of expression, ending the war in Ukraine and 'our children' (for disease and malnutrition). He has long since turned his back on the Dems, 'who have become the party of war, censorship, corruption, Big Pharma, big tech... and big money'.

'This is a great thing. He is a great person, respected by everyone,' the former president beamed during a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada. But in a joint note, five of Kennedy Jr's siblings (Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy) were quick to brand his endorsement of the tycoon as 'a betrayal of the values our father and family hold most dear. It is a sad conclusion to a sad story'.

Polls only credit him with 4%-5%, but even about half that (considering that a party has returned to the Dem fold with Harris) could make a difference in a tight race, especially in swing states.

It remains to be seen how much weight will be given to the environmental lawyer's latest gaffes, such as the anecdote of the bear found dead in the street that he wanted to skin at home and then abandoned in Central Park instead.

Rfk thus completes his bizarre electoral parabola, after having challenged Joe Biden in the primaries first as a Democrat and then as an independent, becoming the black sheep of an emblazoned political dynasty siding entirely with the president. And now with his deputy and heir Kamala Harris. The turnaround had been in the air for days, anticipated by the American media and matured at the event in Phoenix, Arizona, where Kennedy Jr. spoke to the nation about the future of his campaign.

A few hours before a rally on the outskirts of Donald Trump's own city with a mysterious 'special guest'. 'I would be honoured to have his endorsement,' the tycoon had confessed in recent days, saying he was ready to consider a cabinet position for Rfk (as well as Elon Musk). Kennedy Jr had also attempted to contact the Harris campaign, but they rejected his request for a meeting, calling him 'a fringe candidate financed by the Maga movement'.

"We will still win," the staff assures, not forgetting, however, the threat of a third-party candidate that has historically always penalised the Dems, as in the case of activist Ralph Nader who sank Al Gore.

That's why he is wooing voters: 'If they were feeling disillusioned, if they were looking for a new way forward, if they were looking for someone who would really fight for their interests, their values, or if they were looking for someone who would understand the personal decisions they make in their lives, then there is a home for them in the Kamala Harris campaign.

Five brothers of Rfk, endorsement of Trump a betrayal

"We want an America full of hope and united by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise, and national pride. We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby's decision to support Trump today is a betrayal of the values our father and family hold most dear. It is a sad conclusion to a sad story': so in a joint note 5 of the Robert F. Kennedy Jr siblings (Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy).

Trump's thanks

During the rally, Trump announced that, if he wins, he will establish an independent presidential commission on assassination attempts, which will be tasked with releasing the remaining classified documents relating to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. A move 'in honour of Bobby', he explained, referring to Robert Kennedy, Jfk's nephew, on stage beside him. The committee, he added, will also conduct a rigorous examination of the attack he suffered on 13 July in Pennsylvania.