(Daily Mail) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Friday that he was suspending his campaign – with a twist.
Kennedy pushed supporters who live in 10 swing states to back Republican nominee Donald Trump, but said his name would remain on the ballots in traditional red or blue states.
‘I would like everyone to know that I am not terminating my campaign, I am simply suspending it and not ending it,’ Kennedy said in Arizona on Friday. ‘My name will remain on the ballot in most states.’
In long-winded remarks, the nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy said he was withdrawing from the race in swing states because, ‘I would likely hand the election over to the Democrats, with whom I disagree on the most existential issues.’
The confusing announcement was the latest chapter in a 16-month saga that brought brain worms, dog-eating and dead bear cubs into the political vernacular.
Kennedy went scorched earth on his former party, the Democrats, during his Phoenix remarks – but didn’t immediately reveal his plans.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Friday that he was suspending his campaign – with a twist. He encouraged backers in swing states to select former President Donald Trump. He made the announcement in Phoenix, Arizona
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) and his wife Cheryl Hines (right) during the launch of his independent presidential bid in October in Philadelphia
A young Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) with his uncle, President John F. Kennedy (left) in 1961. RFK Jr. left the Democratic Party in October and on Friday endorsed the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump
‘I began this journey as a Democrat, the party of my father, my uncle, the party I pledged my allegiance to long before I was old enough to vote,’ he reminded the crowd.
Kennedy then blasted the Democratic Party for ‘canceling the primary to conceal the cognitive decline of the sitting president.’
He later added that the Democrats ‘ran a sham primary that was rigged to prevent any serious challenge to President Biden.’
Once Biden, he said, ‘predictably bungled’ the debate against Trump, a ‘palace coup’ took place.
‘The same shadowy DNC operatives appointed his successor, also without an election,’ Kennedy charged.
‘They installed a candidate who was so unpopular with voters that she dropped out in 2020 without winning a single delegate,’ Kennedy said.
Kennedy also slammed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris for not engaging in a sit-down interview yet.
‘My uncle and father both relished debate. They prided themselves on their capacity to go toe-to-toe with any opponent in the battle over ideas,’ Kennedy said. ‘They would be astonished to learn of the Democratic Party presidential nominee who, like Vice President Harris, has not appeared in a single interview or an unscripted encounter with votesr for 35 days.’
‘This is profoundly undemocratic,’ Kennedy said. ‘How are people to choose when they don’t know whom they are choosing?’
He blasted the Democrats for being extra critical of Trump, noting that the GOP nominee was mentioned 147 times during the first day of the just-wrapped Chicago convention.
‘Who needs a policy when you have Trump to hate?’ he asked.
During his remarks, Kennedy pushed that he had been cheated out of a victory by the system.
‘In an honest system, I believe I will have won the election,’ he claimed.
Supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. watch as he suspends his presidential campaign Friday from Phoenix, Arizona – nearby where former President Donald Trump is set to appear
Supporters and reporters watch as independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sort of pulled the plug on his campaign. He said he would remove his name from 10 swing state ballots and encouraged supporters there to vote for former President Donald Trump
He also told supporters that there was still a chance he could win – as the election could be tossed to Congress if Harris and Trump tie in the Electoral College count.
But Kennedy explained that he started to consider partnering with Trump when the Republican nominee asked to speak to him about his No. 1 issue – solving chronic disease.
The two met the next day, and then later Kennedy met with Trump and his family members while in Florida.
‘I was surprised to discover that we are aligned on many key issues,’ Kennedy said.
‘In those meetings he suggested we join forces as a unity party,’ the independent continued. ‘We talked about Abraham Lincoln’s Team of Rivals.’
‘That arrangement would allow us to disagree publicly and privately and fiercely if need be on issues over which we differ, while working together on the existential issues upon which we are in concordance.’
Trump is speaking in nearby Glendale later Friday and his campaign teased a ‘special guest’ would join him onstage.
A video of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was leaked that showcases his telephone conversation last month with former President Donald Trump
