Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially lost his U.S. Secret Service (USSS) protection on Monday, just days after his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.
Kennedy’s press secretary confirmed the change in a statement to CBS News. Kennedy had gone through a long process to receive USSS protection in the first place, with his initial requests being denied earlier in the cycle.
It was not until the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in July that President Biden ordered that Kennedy receive Secret Service protection as well.
“In light of this weekend’s events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy, Jr. Both prior to and after the events of this past weekend,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced shortly after Trump’s shooting.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially lost his Secret Service protection on Monday, just days after his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The candidate nevertheless withdrew from the race on Friday and endorsed former President Trump.
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Kennedy spoke at length on Sunday about the “unity government” he is supporting alongside Trump. He said the former president agreed to pursue the key issues that led to his campaign, such as ending the war in Ukraine, combating censorship and improving children’s health in the U.S.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not receive Secret Service protection until after the July assassination attempt against former President Trump, right.
Pollsters within Trump’s campaign say they are already seeing Kennedy’s supporters breaking toward the former president. Polls prior to Kennedy’s withdrawal indicated that he was polling at 5% or 6% support in key swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Kennedy has also teased that Trump is likely to announce more additions to the so-called unity government in the near future.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, teased more Democrats joining former President Donald Trump’s “unity government” in the near future. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“This is only the beginning. Wait till you see the next additions to President Trump’s Unity Government,” he wrote on X.
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Earlier Sunday, Kennedy appeared on “Fox News Sunday” for an interview with host Shannon Bream. There he defended his decision to endorse Trump despite his past criticism of the former president. He argued that Americans can disagree but still get along and work for progress in the areas where they do agree.