Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate for the White House, has ended his presidential campaign and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump. The 70-year-old, a longtime Democrat and member of the storied Kennedy family, joined Trump on stage at a rally in Arizona to announce his decision.

Kennedy stated that the principles that led him to leave the Democratic Party now compel him to support Trump. During a press conference in Phoenix on Friday, he revealed plans to remove his name from the ballot in 10 key battleground states.

Trump welcomed Kennedy at a rally in Glendale, praising him as "phenomenal" and "brilliant." Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris said she would work to win over Kennedy’s supporters.

Kennedy’s polling numbers had dropped significantly from his peak as funds and media attention dwindled. The son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Kennedy is a prominent figure in Democratic politics.

Before introducing Kennedy at the rally, Trump promised to release all remaining documents related to the assassination of President Kennedy if elected.

Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump has upset his family, who previously criticized his use of the Kennedy name in a Super Bowl ad. His sister, Kerry Kennedy, described his support for Trump as a "betrayal" of their family values, calling it a "sad ending to a sad story."

Kennedy acknowledged the personal difficulties his decision would cause, particularly for his family and friends. He expressed that, despite the challenges, he felt a sense of internal peace about his choice.

Kennedy is married to Cheryl Hines, star of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Hines expressed respect for her husband’s decision to suspend his campaign but did not comment on his endorsement of Trump.

Kennedy cited Trump's willingness to negotiate with Russia over the Ukraine war as a key reason for his support. He noted that while there are still significant disagreements, they align on important issues.

Kennedy plans to withdraw his candidacy from 10 states where his presence might harm Trump's chances. He has already withdrawn from Arizona and Pennsylvania, though it is too late to exit Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

He launched his campaign in April 2023 as a Democrat, the party associated with his family, but left due to what he saw as the party's shift toward war, censorship, and corporate influence. He attributed his campaign's struggles to media control and systematic censorship.

Despite early polling showing Kennedy with 14-16% support, his numbers fell to single digits after Harris became the Democratic nominee. He offered to collaborate with Harris but faced little reaction from Democrats, with Mary Beth Cahill of the DNC dismissing Kennedy's endorsement as inconsequential.

Kennedy’s campaign was closely tied to the anti-vaccine movement through his leadership of the Children's Health Defense organization. Recent revelations included a past incident involving a dead bear cub and Kennedy’s struggle with a brain parasite affecting his memory.

Rumors had circulated that Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump was linked to a potential role in Trump’s administration. Trump indicated he would consider a role for Kennedy, with Trump Jr. suggesting he could disrupt a federal department.

Merrill Matthews of the Institute for Policy Innovation noted that Kennedy's decision underscores the challenges faced by new ideas and candidates in the U.S. two-party system.