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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially declared that he will now run as an Independent candidate for the 2024 election on Monday during a rally in Philadelphia.
“I’m here to declare myself an Independent candidate,” Kennedy stated on stage at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall.
“But that’s not all, I’m here to join you and make a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation,” Kennedy continued. “We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government.”
Earlier this year, Kennedy announced his run for the 2024 presidential elections, seeking the Democratic nomination. While he has gained significant movement over the summer, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has refused to move their support from President Biden.
Many Democrats have dismissed Kennedy as a serious nominee, brushing him off as a “fringe contender,” according to Fox News. However, for the last few months, Kennedy has pushed back against the DNC and Biden for various reasons.
After Biden announced that he would be running for reelection in 2024, the DNC swiftly stated that the party would not be holding primary debates for nominees. However, Kennedy pushed back against the idea, telling Fox News, “it’s important for the American people to know that their president has the vigor to handle this very rigorous job.”
Kennedy also accused the Biden administration of refusing him access to Secret Service protection, claiming that “politics” was behind the decision.
“This is obviously a political decision, not a legal one. As such, this is directly on President Biden,” Kennedy’s campaign manager Dennis Kucinich stated, according to Politico.
It is unclear how favorable Kennedy will be to American voters with this new announcement.