The family appeared with Biden at an event in Philadelphia. It was expected to include 15 members of the Kennedy family, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s younger sister, Kerry Kennedy, who spoke on her family’s support for Biden.
“President Biden has been a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for,” she was set to say, referencing the several major political figures from her family.
The endorsement is not a surprise, given the family’s previously stated support for Biden, but is still a major rebuke of their relative as he seeks the presidency. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has leaned on his family relations throughout his campaign, arguing that his administration would be the true continuation of the ideals of his father, former Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and uncle, former President John F. Kennedy.
But he has become a bit of a pariah as multiple family members have denounced his candidacy for its principles and the potential for it to help former President Trump win reelection.
“I can only imagine how Donald Trump’s outrageous lies and behavior would have horrified my father, Robert F. Kennedy, who proudly served as Attorney General of the United States, and honored his pledge to uphold the law and protect the country,” Kerry Kennedy was set to say at the event. “Daddy stood for equal justice, human rights, and freedom from want and fear. Just as President Biden does today.”
Four of Kennedy’s siblings — Kerry, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Rep. Joe Kennedy II and Rory Kennedy — said in an October statement that their brother’s candidacy is “dangerous to our country.”
They said he might have the same name as their father, but does not share the same “values, vision or judgement.”
Rory told CNN last month that her brother could take votes away from Biden and hand the election to Trump.
The presidential candidate has stirred controversy with remarks raising conspiracy theories surrounding vaccines and more recently on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
