A gathering of over a dozen members of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s family is set to endorse President Biden in Philadelphia on Thursday, despite Kennedy's own independent candidacy for the presidency.
Kerry Kennedy, one of Kennedy's sisters, is poised to commend President Biden as a leader reminiscent of their father, Robert F. Kennedy. In prepared remarks, she states that her father championed equal justice, human rights, and freedom from want and fear—values that President Biden upholds today.
Robert F. Kennedy served as attorney general during John F. Kennedy's presidency and was a presidential candidate until his assassination in 1968.
In addition to endorsing President Biden, Kerry Kennedy is expected to criticize former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. She will condemn Trump's falsehoods and actions, suggesting that her father would have been appalled by his behavior. Furthermore, she will accuse Trump of attempting to regress the country by undermining fundamental American rights and freedoms.
The information released did not make any reference to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., however, a number of his family members have already voiced their disapproval of his candidacy.
After Kennedy announced in October that he would withdraw his campaign for the presidency as a Democrat and instead run as an independent, four of his siblings — documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, former Rep. Joe Kennedy II, and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend — criticized his decision to oppose Mr. Biden, labeling it as "dangerous to our country." In a statement back then, they expressed, "Bobby may share our father's name, but he does not embody the same values, vision, or judgment." The four siblings disapproved of his independent candidacy, stating, "We reject his candidacy and view it as a threat to our country."
Besides Kerry Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s siblings, Rory Kennedy, Joe Kennedy II, Christopher Kennedy, Maxwell Kennedy, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, along with several other relatives, are endorsing Mr. Biden on Thursday.
Mr. Biden's campaign highlighted that the president has always held the Kennedys in high regard and has praised the family's commitment to justice and human rights causes.
Inspired by the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy, the president has dedicated himself to public service and political leadership. Last month, on St. Patrick's Day, Mr. Biden hosted the extended Kennedy family for a private tour of the Oval Office and West Wing, followed by a festive holiday reception with hundreds of guests. The Kennedy family members shared photos with the president, showing their support for him over a fellow Kennedy running against him.
As a show of solidarity, several members of the Kennedy family will be joining Mr. Biden for a grassroots organizing event and assisting with voter outreach efforts, as confirmed by the campaign.
