President Joe Biden received a significant endorsement from over a dozen members of the extended Kennedy family on Thursday. This endorsement aims to leverage the legacy of a revered Democratic family while subtly highlighting their near-universal rejection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s third-party challenge.
RFK Jr.’s campaign has been largely dismissed by the broader Kennedy family, who have labeled it as “dangerous.” Despite this, RFK Jr. continues to exploit his family name and history for his campaign. The endorsement event, held in Philadelphia, the same city where RFK Jr. announced his independent presidential bid, underscores the potential threat posed by Kennedy to Biden’s reelection campaign.
Kerry Kennedy, one of RFK Jr.’s sisters and a key figure in her family’s organizing efforts, introduced Biden at the event. She praised the president as a champion for the rights and freedoms that her father and uncles stood for, while also warning of threats posed by Donald Trump to democracy and freedom.
While most of her speech was centered on Trump, she did not miss the opportunity to criticize her brother’s campaign. She stated that in the 2024 elections, only two candidates have a realistic chance of winning the presidency.
Following Kerry Kennedy’s speech, a visibly moved Biden thanked her for the most meaningful introduction he had ever received. He also acknowledged the influence of Robert F. Kennedy Sr.’s legacy on his own political career.
Robert Kennedy, in a social media post, expressed hope that his family’s political disagreements could serve as a model for restoring civility and respect in public discourse. He also acknowledged that some family members are working for his campaign.
After the event, the Kennedys joined Biden at a grassroots organizing event with campaign volunteers and local supporters. The family members also planned to participate in campaign phone calls and door-knocking activities.
Biden’s connection with the Kennedys is not a new phenomenon. He has often cited Robert F. Kennedy Sr. as a personal inspiration in his political career. He has also appointed three family members to diplomatic posts in his administration.
Despite RFK Jr.’s presidential bid, many members of the Kennedy family have already publicly expressed their support for Biden. In a recent CNN interview, Rory Kennedy, another sister of RFK Jr., expressed her concern that her brother could undermine Biden’s chances of defeating Trump.
RFK Jr., however, has downplayed the apparent family rift, stating that it is normal for a large family to have differing opinions.
The Kennedy family members who attended Biden’s event included Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joe Kennedy II, Beth Kennedy, Joe Kennedy III, Christopher Kennedy, Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, Vicki Strauss Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, Max Meltzer, Ted Kennedy Jr., Stephen Kennedy Smith, Peter McKelvy, and Rebeca McKelvy.
This story has been updated with additional information. Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Michael Williams, Aaron Pellish, and Eva McKend.