The Secret Service has confirmed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Independent presidential candidate, has had his protection terminated following the suspension of his campaign, as stated in an email to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
On Friday, Kennedy announced the suspension of his campaign in key swing states and expressed his endorsement for former President Donald Trump. Stefanie Spear, Kennedy’s press secretary, informed CBS News on Sunday that the former candidate “no longer has USSS protection.”
Anthony Guglielmi, Chief of Communications for the Secret Service, conveyed to the Daily Caller News Foundation on Sunday that “Mr. Kennedy is no longer a protectee of the US Secret Service,” although he did not elaborate further. Kennedy faced challenges in obtaining Secret Service protection since he entered the race in April of the previous year. After several months of requests, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced on July 15 that Kennedy would be granted protection.
This decision came shortly after an assassination attempt on Trump by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, which resulted in the death of former volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore and left Trump with a bullet graze on his ear, in addition to severely injuring two other individuals in the crowd. In the aftermath of the attack, Trump urged that Kennedy should “immediately” receive Secret Service protection in a post on Truth Social.
“We are in a heightened and very dynamic threat environment. The United States’ Secret Service, we — including the FBI and our other partners across the federal government — take the threats very seriously and adjust security measures as warranted, maintaining the safety and security of the president, the former president in their campaign events is one our most vital priorities,” Mayorkas said at the time. “In light of the weekend’s events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection for Robert Kennedy Jr.”
Following the suspension of his campaign, Kennedy announced on Fox News this past Sunday that he will now be engaging in “active” support for Trump.
