Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has officially suspended his 2024 presidential campaign and thrown his support behind Donald J. Trump. The announcement was made during a live press conference in Arizona on Friday, following earlier confirmation in a court filing in Pennsylvania.

Kennedy began his speech with a critique of the Democratic Party, lamenting what he described as the party's departure from its traditional values of free speech and support for the working class. He praised his campaign's efforts and the dedication of his supporters, stating, "In an honest system, I believe that I would have won the election."

He accused the Democratic National Committee (DNC) of undermining his campaign, claiming they used aligned judges to remove him and other candidates from ballots and to pursue legal actions against President Trump. Kennedy also criticized what he called a "coup" within the Democratic Party, alleging that Kamala Harris was unfairly positioned as the party's nominee for the 2024 election without facing interviews or debates.

In a direct address to the media, Kennedy condemned what he sees as their role as "government mouthpieces" rather than maintaining skepticism toward authority. He also spoke about the federal government's alleged collusion with social media platforms to censor Americans, framing this as an attack on the First Amendment.

Kennedy cited three major issues that led him to support Trump: free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the "war on our children," with a particular focus on the impact of chronic diseases on American youth. He revealed that he had met with Trump to discuss uniting their efforts under what he called a "Unity Party," emphasizing the need to address the chronic illness crisis in the country.

While Kennedy announced his support for Trump, he clarified that he is not ending his campaign but merely suspending it. He also mentioned plans to withdraw his ballots from ten battleground states across the country.

The decision, he said, was agonizing and made after deep prayer, driven by a desire to heal the nation and bring unity and kindness to the Trump campaign. "The most unifying theme for all Americans is that we all love our children," Kennedy said, expressing hope that this shared value could bring the country together.

Kennedy's sister, Kerry Kennedy, reacted to the announcement by calling his decision to endorse Trump a "betrayal of the values our father and our family hold most dear."

Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy's running mate, indicated earlier in the week that the campaign faced significant pressure from the Democratic Party, which she said used legal tactics to force Kennedy out of the race.

Speculation about Kennedy's endorsement of Trump intensified after Kennedy withdrew his candidacy in Arizona and rumors circulated that he might appear alongside Trump at a Turning Point Action event.

Kennedy, a member of the prominent Kennedy family, has long been involved in environmental activism and has been a vocal critic of the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine mandates. His independent campaign gained significant attention, but he ultimately decided to step back in favor of supporting Trump's bid for the presidency.

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