What happened
Robert Kennedy Jr., who suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, said that Trump made "no commitment" to give him a position in a second Trump administration. Kennedy also told Fox News he did not throw his support to Trump out of revenge for what he calls his mistreatment by the Democratic Party or a reported snub by the Kamala Harris campaign.
Who said what
Kennedy told Fox News that Trump invited him to "form a unity government" and he will be "campaigning actively."
Kennedy's Trump endorsement drew sharp criticism from his siblings and his former environmental allies. It's probably "best understood as a double-edged political sword" for Trump, too, The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial. It may help Trump in "battleground states," but Kennedy "lives in the fever swamps with his anti-vaccination views, his support for an extreme climate agenda," and his blame of big business for "American health ills" — not to mention he "admitted recently to dumping a dead bear in New York's Central Park."
What next?
Kennedy's withdrawal should have a "minimal impact on the race," likely giving Trump a net 0.2 percentage point gain nationally, FiveThirtyEight said. Trump and Harris are traveling to swing states this week. Trump suggested yesterday he might pull out of his one scheduled debate with Harris on Sept. 10.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
August 24 editorial cartoonsCartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Putin at Donald Trump's circus, gallons of whitewash, and a foldable cartoon
-
5 Post Office-approved cartoons about mail-in votingCartoons Artists take on reverse logic, Putin's election advice, and more
-
The battle of the weight-loss drugsTalking Point Can Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly regain their former stock market glory? A lot is riding on next year's pills
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfullySpeed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Gavin Newsom's Trump-style trolling roils critics while thrilling fansTALKING POINTS The California governor has turned his X account into a cutting parody of Trump's digital cadence, angering Fox News conservatives
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutionalSpeed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Judges: Threatened for ruling against TrumpFeature Threats against federal judges across the U.S. have surged since Donald Trump took office
-
The census: Why Trump wants a new oneFeature Donald Trump is pushing for a 'Trumpified census' that excludes undocumented immigrants
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summitSpeed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
Health: Will medical science survive RFK Jr.?Feature Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scrapped $500 million in mRNA vaccine research contracts
-
Trump extends power with D.C. police takeoverFeature Donald Trump deploys 500 law enforcement officers and 800 National Guard members to fight crime in Washington, D.C.
