Crypto Advocate RFK Jr. Ends White House Bid, Pledges Kennedy Support to Trump

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent supporter of digital assets, has decided to end his independent bid for the U.S. presidency and align himself with Donald Trump. This decision, aimed at opposing Kamala Harris, has already given Trump a boost in political prediction markets.

Kennedy announced that he is suspending his presidential campaign and withdrawing his name from ballots in 10 key battleground states. He expressed his intention to support Trump’s campaign and potentially join a second Trump administration, focusing on issues central to his public life.

Despite his family’s strong Democratic legacy, Kennedy is urging his supporters to back Trump in these critical states, fearing that his continued presence in the race could inadvertently aid the Democrats. At a press event in Arizona, RFK Jr. explained that relentless media control and censorship had convinced him that his path to victory was unrealistic. He acknowledged that remaining on the ballot could help the Democrats, with whom he disagrees on several critical issues.

Following Kennedy’s announcement, Trump saw a 2% increase in Polymarket election betting, reaching a 51% chance of winning against Harris, who stands at 48%. Additionally, bitcoin surged to $63,700, up 5% in the past 24 hours, partly due to Kennedy’s influence as a crypto advocate.

While RFK Jr. carries the influential Kennedy name, he has not been widely accepted as the standard bearer by his family, many of whom endorsed President Joe Biden earlier in the year. His campaign was initially seen as more detrimental to Trump than Harris, but it remains uncertain how much support he will transfer to the Republican candidate.

From a crypto perspective, Kennedy does not need to persuade Trump to embrace the industry, as Trump has already shifted his stance, especially after profiting from branded non-fungible tokens (NFTs) following his departure from the White House. Recently, Trump’s focus has turned towards a new family venture in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, though details are limited.

Kennedy’s withdrawal from the ballot in key states effectively narrows the November election to a contest between the two major party candidates. Although he will remain on the ballot in non-battleground states, early polls suggest that Harris may hold a slight edge over Trump, though the margin is narrow.

Kennedy described his decision to support Trump as “heart-wrenching,” but based it on their shared views on issues like the Ukraine war, child health, and free speech. He stated that this decision brings him a sense of inner peace and affirmed his commitment to joining Trump’s campaign.