Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s decision to suspend his presidential campaign may have come as a surprise to some – but the real shock was his endorsement of Donald Trump. The Kennedys, who are about as close as Americans come to having a royal family, are famously Democrats. RFK Jr. was, as well, for his entire life – until this election cycle, that is. In a statement signed by five of his eight living siblings, the Kennedys expressed their disappointment:
"We want an America filled with hope and bound together 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 endorse Trump [Friday] is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story."
The statement, posted to Twitter/X by Joseph Kennedy III - RFK Jr.'s nephew, was signed by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.
RFK Jr. Breaks With Familial Tradition
RFK Jr. is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, the former US attorney general and senator who, in 1968, was assassinated while running for the Democratic presidential nomination. He’s also the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy – all strong Democrats. Junior began his run for the White House as a Democrat as well, but he switched to independent in October 2023. He claimed his reason for leaving the party was due to its view on free speech, the Ukraine war, and a “war on our children.”
The former candidate said the Democratic National Committee had “waged continued legal war” on both him and Trump. He also called out the DNC for running a “sham primary” for the way they pushed President Joe Biden out the door and ushered in VP Kamala Harris as their nominee without offering anyone else a chance at the position.
To say the family is upset with RFK Jr. for his decision to endorse Trump is an understatement. Here are a few of the comments:
His sister, Kerry Kennedy, spoke with Kaitlan Collins in an interview on CNN on Friday. She said: “I love my brother, but this is an outrage and I completely disavow and disassociate myself from him on this issue.” She claimed their father, Robert F. Kennedy, were he alive today, would be strongly opposed to Trump, especially because of his “cruel smearing of human rights for suffering people,” which she said was something that deeply motivated their father.
Max Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s brother, wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that published Sunday, August 25. He claimed their father would have respected Harris as the pick for the Democratic nominee because of her commitment to decent values, equality, and justice. “To pledge allegiance to Trump, a man who demonstrates no adherence to our family’s values, is inconceivable to me,” he wrote. “With a heavy heart, I am today asking my fellow Americans to do what will honor our father the most: Ignore Bobby and support Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic platform. It’s what is best for our country.”
RFK Jr. appeared in an interview on Fox News Sunday and said he understood how his family did not agree with his decision. Even his wife, Cheryl Hines, has said she is uncomfortable with his choice. He told the show’s host, Shannon Bream: “My family is at the center of the Democratic Party. I understand that they are troubled by my decisions, but I love my family. I feel like we were raised in a milieu where we were encouraged to debate each other and debate ferociously and passionately about things, but to still love each other. They are free to take their positions on these issues.”
RFK Jr. admitted that he had also reached out to Harris and Libertarian presidential nominee Chase Oliver “on the same basis” as he did with the former president before he offered his endorsement of Trump; however, the candidates reportedly did not respond. He shocked America, or at least his family, when he broke from his family's legacy and endorsed Trump. The Kennedy's, once the epitome of Democratic loyalty, are now split. Some continue to work with RFK Jr. while others are publicly distancing themselves, proving that even in America’s royal family, politics can be thicker than blood.
