Kennedy family accuses RFK Jr. of ‘betrayal’ for backing Trump in fiery statement after he suspended his 2024 campaign
Five siblings of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. issued a scathing statement after he endorsed Donald Trump, calling it a “betrayal” of their father RFK’s values.
They issued the statement minutes after RFK Jr. announced he would break with the party’s long history as a Democratic Party stronghold and endorse Trump. That was the day after Harris accepted the party’s nomination that RFK had sought in 1968 as an icon of the progressive movement.
“We want an America full of hope and united by a shared vision of a better future, a future marked by individual freedom, economic promise, and national pride,” the siblings wrote.
“We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story,” they concluded.
The letter was signed by former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.
Five siblings of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. criticized his ‘sad’ decision to support Donald Trump
Kerry Kennedy, a human rights activist for a nonprofit named after her father, made her statement on X as politicians questioned whether the move would garner enough support for Trump.
RFK, Jr. had already formally withdrawn his name from the ballot in Arizona, a crucial state where Trump holds a narrow lead in the polls.
Harris’ campaign released a statement of its own following the news, but surprisingly failed to provide any response, even after RFK, Jr.’s camp complained that they were unable to arrange a meeting to negotiate with her.
Trump and his camp had openly raised the possibility that RFK, Jr. could find a job, despite his repeated attacks on Trump’s handling of vaccines during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For every American who is fed up with Donald Trump and is looking for a new path forward, our campaign is for you. To deliver for working people and those who feel left behind, we need a leader who fights for you, not just himself, and who brings us together, not tears us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support,” the message read.
“Even though we don’t agree on every issue, Kamala Harris knows there is more that unites us than divides us: respect for our rights, public safety, protection of our freedoms and opportunity for all,” the Harris campaign said.
Harris, who gave one of the biggest speeches of her life on Thursday night, had no public events planned after the party conference, which the party said raised millions and reintroduced the candidate to millions of Americans.