GLENDALE, Ariz. – Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made his first appearance at a rally for former President Donald Trump on Friday, just hours after wrapping up his campaign and announcing his support for the Republican nominee.
Before making a surprise guest appearance at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Trump, 78, described the 70-year-old scion of the Kennedy political dynasty as a “great man” who is “highly respected” and a “great defender of American values.”
“Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!” supporters in the packed arena yelled as Trump took to the stage.
“Bobby has run an extraordinary campaign over the last 16 months,” Trump said. “I know because he’s attacked me a few times, and I didn’t like it.”
“His candidacy inspired millions of Americans, raised important issues that have been ignored in this country for too long, and rallied people across the political spectrum behind a forward-thinking campaign based on the American values of great men and women, his father, Robert Kennedy, and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy,” the former president continued.
“And I know they’re looking down at me right now and they’re so proud of Bobby. And I’m so proud of Bobby.”
Kennedy explained that in his first conversation with Trump after the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, the two men discussed “the values and issues we share, not the things that divide us, because we don’t see eye to eye on everything”.
“One of the issues he talked about was safe food security and ending the epidemic of chronic disease,” said the Democrat-turned-independent.
“Don’t you want healthy kids? Don’t you want chemicals out of your food? Don’t you want regulators free from corporate corruption? That’s what President Trump has told me he wants,” Kennedy revealed.
“Don’t you want a president who will make America whole again?” he asked the raucous crowd.
Kennedy also praised Trump’s pledges to keep the US out of foreign wars, end censorship and protect “American freedom” from “totalitarianism.”
After Kennedy’s brief remarks, Trump predicted his former rival would have a “huge impact” on his campaign – “much bigger than the polls would tell you.”
“Bobby and I will fight together to overthrow a corrupt political system and return control of our country to the people, and I sincerely invite all those who supported Bobby’s campaign to join us in building this coalition,” Trump said.
