The already extremely hectic 2024 U.S. presidential race took an unsurprising yet consequential turn on Aug. 23 when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) suspended his independent campaign and endorsed former Republican President Donald Trump, ending the most high-profile independent candidacy of the 2024 election. This unexpected alliance between the, as of now, black sheep of America’s most prominent Democratic family and the Republican frontrunner has reshaped the political landscape, possibly putting some breaks on Vice President Kamala Harris’ rise in the polls.
RFK Jr.’s presidential bid began on April 5, 2023, as a Democratic primary challenger to President Joe Biden, upholding the Kennedy family’s long-standing party affiliation. However, his shift to an independent run revealed a surprising trend as three-way polling was conducted between RFK Jr., Biden and Trump and found that RFK Jr. drew more support away from Trump with Republican voters than from Democrats. This move followed a lack of significant momentum against Biden and criticism from party leadership over his controversial views, particularly on vaccines and COVID-19, as the chairman and founder of Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group and a leader in COVID-19 false vaccine information.
Now with Harris leading the Democratic ticket following Biden’s withdrawal due to health concerns, RFK Jr.’s exit and endorsement of Trump could potentially give the former president a significant boost. The question looming over both “major” party campaigns is whether RFK Jr.’s support will provide Trump with a much-needed “campaign booster” or, paradoxically, become a liability due to their shared controversial stances becoming more salient to the Trump campaign, particularly with respect to their “dubious” stances on vaccines. Additionally, it’s very possible Democrats will be able to latch RFK Jr.’s numerous controversies onto Trump’s 2024 bid as he starts actively campaigning for the former president. This could very well be beneficial in attacking Trump by association, turning what seemed like a potential advantage into another potential Achilles’ heel for the Republican campaign. Some of these controversies include RFK Jr. decapitating a dead whale with a chainsaw and putting its head on his car’s roof, his admission of dumping a dead bear cub’s carcass in Central Park, in addition to RFK Jr.’s claims that mass shootings are linked to prescription drugs, that vaccines can cause autism, gender dysphoria is caused by chemicals in the environment and that the COVID-19 pandemic was designed to spare Jewish and Chinese people.
At a recent press conference in Phoenix, RFK Jr. officially was suspended his campaign and throwing his support behind Trump. He cited shared concerns over Democratic funding for the war in Ukraine, free speech and what he called “a war on our children” as reasons for his decision. RFK Jr. revealed that Trump had offered him a role in a potential second adminiswtration, focusing on health care, food and drug policies. Despite their differences, RFK Jr. expressed hope for a “unity party” that would “allow us to disagree publicly and privately” while working on shared goals. Trump welcomed the endorsement, praising RFK Jr. as beloved and respected by everybody, which is a highly debatable sentiment with respect to both statements.
RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump created a stark divide within the Kennedy clan. While he stands almost alone in supporting Trump, the majority of his family, have publicly backed Harris. This rift was exacerbated when 15 of Kennedy’s family members issued a statement calling RFK Jr.’s endorsement “dangerous to our country” and “a betrayal of Democratic values.”
RFK Jr.’s assertion that Trump has changed as a person and is now focused on his legacy contradicts both Trump’s rhetoric and behavior. While RFK Jr. claims Trump is listening to a wider range of voices, Trump’s campaign promises and public statements remain largely consistent with his previous positions. RFK Jr.’s optimism about Trump’s evolution may be more wishful thinking than substantiated fact, potentially reflecting RFK Jr.’s attempt to justify his endorsement to his traditionally Democratic supporters. However, Trump also tapped former 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard earlier this month to join his transition team alongside RFK Jr. However, this flip-flop may be hard to swallow for some as RFK Jr. has more than harshly and repeatedly criticized Trump, such as stating how Trump’s imperial plan is both absurd and terrifying.
RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump will undoubtedly mark a shift in the election landscape. However, as the race tightens, the true impact of this endorsement remains to be seen. It may galvanize Trump’s base and attract many disillusioned voters who have made up RFK Jr.’s coalition, or it could backfire in highlighting controversial stances that alienate moderates. Regardless of the outcome, this political maneuver will likely be remembered as a defining moment in an already unprecedented election cycle. Irrespective of how the election ends, it seems clear to me that Trump had the most to lose from RFK Jr. sticking into the end, and Trump has the most to gain from absorbing a chunk of RFK Jr.’s coalition into the “Trump team.”
Andrew McDonald, FCRH’26, is a history and political science double major from Sacramento, Calif.
