RFK Jr reveals wife Cheryl Hines' reaction to Trump endorsement as he details 'personal cost' of decision

WASHINGTON, DC: Robert F Kennedy Jr’s first major television interview following his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsement of Donald Trump was marked by intense scrutiny on Fox News Sunday.

Host Shannon Bream’s initial query centered on recently reported text messages where Kennedy labeled Trump as a “terrible human being,” “barely human,” and “probably a sociopath.” By the interview’s conclusion, Kennedy faced pointed questions regarding the disapproval from his family.

Kennedy Jr defends Trump endorsement

Robert F Kennedy Jr did not deny the authenticity of the texts but instead clarified his reasoning for supporting Trump.

He explained that after recognizing he had no “path to victory” as an independent candidate, he chose to back Trump due to Trump’s active efforts to gain his support, contrasting with Kamala Harris’s lack of similar outreach.

“He invited me to form a unity government and we agreed to be able to continue to criticize each other on issues on which we don’t agree,” Kennedy Jr said.

He added that their mutual goal of “make American children healthy again” — referencing his stance against childhood vaccines — allowed him to overlook his reservations about Trump.

Following Kennedy Jr’s public endorsement of Trump, speculation swirled about the reaction of his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, who has previously expressed her opposition to Trump and even suggested she might divorce Kennedy if he were chosen as Trump’s running mate.

RFK Jr thanks wife Cheryl Hines for support amidst political disagreements

Kennedy addressed the situation on Twitter, expressing gratitude for Hines’ “unconditional love” despite their political differences.

He stated, “I am so grateful to my amazing wife Cheryl for her unconditional love, as I made a political decision with which she is very uncomfortable. I wish this also for the country—love and unity even in the face of disagreement. We will need that in coming times.”

RFK Jr addresses personal backlash from family and Democratic ties

During the Fox Sunday interview, Bream also touched upon the “personal cost” of Kennedy Jr’s decision, referencing his tweet about Hines and the fact that his extended family, who previously supported Joe Biden, is now backing Kamala Harris.

“Talk to us about the personal backlash you have to deal with,” Bream asked.

Kennedy responded by acknowledging the central role his family plays within the Democratic Party. He mentioned that several family members work within the Biden administration and noted that President Biden has a bust of Kennedy’s late father, Robert F Kennedy, in the Oval Office.

“My family is at the center of the Democratic Party,” Kennedy Jr said.

“I understand that they are troubled by my decisions, but I love my family.” He continued, “I feel like we were raised in a milieu where we were encouraged to debate each other and debate ferociously and passionately about things, but to still love each other. They are free to take their positions on these issues.”