Kennedy family members denounce RFK Jr.'s decision to endorse Trump as a 'betrayal of values'
Members of the Kennedy family have long criticized RFK Jr.'s bid for the presidency
How will RFK Jr.'s endorsement of Trump affect the presidential race?
'Special Report' panelists discuss the Kennedy voter influence on the Trump and Harris campaigns.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s family denounced him for "betraying" their family values after the former presidential candidate gave his full-throated support Friday to former President Trump.
"We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride," a statement signed by five of the former third-party presidential candidate's siblings said.
"We believe in Harris and Walz," the statement continued. "Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump [Friday] is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story."
The statement, signed by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy, was shared by Joe Kennedy III, a grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, who wrote that it was "well said."
![RFK Jr. endorses Trump](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/RFKTrump.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. shakes hands with former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, during a rally Friday in Glendale, Ariz. (Reuters/Go Nakamura)
Jack Schlossberg, RFK Jr.'s cousin, wrote that his relative was "for sale" and now "works" for Trump.
"Never been less surprised in my life. Been saying it for over a year — RFK Jr. is for sale, works for Trump. Bedfellows and loving it," Schlossberg wrote in an X post. "Kamala Harris is for the people — the easiest decision of all time just got easier."
![Jack Schlossberg](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/JackSch1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago Tuesday. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
![Kennedy family and Joe Biden](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/KennedyFamily.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
President Biden walks with the Kennedy family during a campaign event in Philadelphia in April. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy and the grandson of JFK, has been a vocal critic of his cousin's campaign.
When RFK Jr. first announced his candidacy, Schlossberg called him an "embarrassment."
The 31-year-old has been an ardent supporter of Harris and recently spoke at the Democratic National Convention.
KENNEDY FAMILY CHOOSES POLITICS OVER FAMILY WITH ENDORSEMENT IN 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE
![RFK Jr.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/AP24237000450321-scaled-e1724500781323.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. waves to the crowd at a campaign rally for former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, Friday, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Independent presidential candidate on Friday dropped his White House bid and announced support for Trump.
TRUMP THANKS RFK JR FOR ENDORSEMENT AFTER THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE SUSPENDS HIS CAMPAIGN: 'THAT'S BIG'
"I've made the heart-wrenching decision to suspend my campaign and to support President Trump. This decision is agonizing for me because of the difficulties it causes me and my children and my friends," he said during an event in Phoenix, Arizona.
WATCH:
Hours later, Kennedy joined Trump onstage at an Arizona rally, where the crowd burst into resounding "Bobby!" chants.
"Three causes drove me to enter this race in the first place. And these are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent and now to throw my support at President Trump," RFK Jr. said. "The causes were free speech, war in Ukraine and the war on our children."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
RFK Jr. said the Democratic National Committee "waged continued legal war" on both Trump and him, while also accusing the DNC of running a "sham primary" that prevented a serious primary challenge to President Biden before he secured the Democratic nomination and dropped out in July and endorsed Harris.
Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.