Robert F. Kennedy Jr ends run for US presidency, backs Trump

Independent candidate feared staying in race would end up helping Kamala Harris in Nov

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Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr abandoned his campaign on Aug 23 and endorsed Republican Donald Trump, ending a presidential bid that he began as a Democrat trading on one of the most famous names in American politics.

His campaign indicated that he feared staying in the race would siphon support from former president Trump, who is locked in a tight contest with Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris ahead of the Nov 5 election.

"His candidacy has inspired millions and millions of Americans, raised critical issues that have been too long ignored in this country," Trump said of Mr Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy said he met Trump and his aides several times and learnt they agreed on issues such as border security, free speech and ending wars.

"There are still many issues and approaches on which we continue to have very serious differences. But we are aligned on other key issues," he said at a news conference.

He reiterated much of that when he joined Trump at an Arizona rally and repeated positions on his core issues of combating chronic illness and ridding the environment and food supply of hazardous chemicals. Mr Kennedy said he would remove his name from the ballot in 10 battleground states likely to determine the outcome of the election but would remain as a candidate in other states.

An environmental lawyer, antivaccine activist and son and nephew of two titans of Democratic politics who were assassinated during the turbulent 1960s, Mr Kennedy entered the race in April 2023 as a challenger to President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.