Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on August 23 that he would suspend his campaign and switch his support to former President Trump, the Republican nominee.

Mr Kennedy said his name would remain on the ballot in most red and blue states (referring to states where Republicans and Democrats are likely to win). However, his name would be removed from ballots in swing states where he could make a difference.

In Pennsylvania, court records show that Mr. Kennedy made the move to remove his name and express his intention to endorse Mr. Trump just before he took the podium. Earlier that day, Mr. Kennedy also removed his name from the ballot in Arizona.

However, Mr. Kennedy insisted this was not the complete end of his campaign.

“I want everyone to know that I am not ending my campaign,” Mr Kennedy said at his rally. “I am simply pausing, not ending. My name will remain on the ballot in most states.”

He announced that he would suspend his campaign in 10 key battlegrounds, where Republicans and Democrats are fighting for every vote because they will have a major impact on the election outcome.

Mr. Kennedy admitted that he did not believe he could win this year’s election and called on voters to turn to support Mr. Trump.

Mr Trump thanked Mr Kennedy for his support at an event in Nevada.

Mr. Kennedy entered the 2024 US presidential campaign, initially as a candidate to compete with incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. However, he later decided to run as an independent.

Mr Kennedy, 70, faces an uphill battle to qualify for the presidency in many states, but he could pick up enough votes in the tight race between Mr Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to make a relative impact.

Following the move, members of the Kennedy family, who support the Democratic Party, described it as “a betrayal of the values ​​our father and our family held most dear.”