Trumpland

Networks Cut Away From RFK Jr.’s Long Trump Endorsement

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CNN and MSNBC cut away from the Kennedy scion before he got around to finally endorsing former President Donald Trump.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks from a podium on stage.
Thomas Machowicz/Reuters

Both MSNBC and CNN cut away from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s speech on Friday—well before he got around to endorsing Donald Trump. Kennedy’s rambling address began with 20 minutes of criticisms directed at mass media and the Democratic Party before he got around to addressing what everyone in the country seemed to already know: He is suspending his campaign to throw his support behind Trump. Both cable networks opted to “monitor” Kennedy’s speech, which began 45 minutes late, instead of airing it live. CNN pulled its coverage just as Kennedy criticized Kamala Harris’ lack of media interviews. Fox News aired Kennedy’s address through to the Trump endorsement but pulled its live coverage while Kennedy continued speaking. Even Trump didn’t care to hear Kennedy’s speech in full, with the Republican presidential nominee beginning an event in Las Vegas before his political foe-turned-friend had wrapped up. “I want to thank Bobby,” Trump said to start his own event. “That was nice. Really, really nice. A great guy—he’s respected by everybody,” he said.