Billy Baldwin Ends Friendship With RFK Jr. Over Trump Endorsement

Billy Baldwin has chosen to publicly end his friendship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. following the lawyer’s endorsement of Donald Trump.

The actor took to X on Sunday to share a lengthy message about the independent politician. On Friday, Kennedy—often referred to as RFK Jr.—suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed the former United States president. In 2012, Baldwin—whose brothers include Alec Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin—was photographed with RFK Jr. at Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Baldwin’s wedding in New York City.

“I have known Bobby Kennedy Jr. for decades. We were friends. I loved his politics. His speeches inspired me. We were neighbors. Our kids were friends. We carpooled the kids to school for a few years,” Baldwin began.

He continued: “Bobby Kennedy has had presidential ambitions his entire adult life. In 2006, when Bobby was 53 years old, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer left office to run for Governor. Bobby Kennedy considered running for that office. This position could have quickly led him to either the US Senate or Governor of New York and a potential path to the presidency. He ultimately didn’t run citing that his ‘responsibilities to his six children from two marriages had left him with expenses that simply couldn’t be covered by a government salary.’ There were other reasons.

“In 2008, when Bobby was 54 years old, Hillary Clinton vacated her New York Senate seat to become Barack Obama’s Secretary of State… this was another feasible path for Bobby to fulfill his presidential ambitions. That didn’t happen according to Bobby because… ‘I have spent lots of time thinking about it. I have spent time talking with my uncle, my brothers, my cousin and, of course, my wife. And I think I’m in a good position right now doing what I’m doing.’ There were other reasons.

“Now, in 2024 at 70 years old, with the window of opportunity for his presidential aspirations closing, Bobby decides it’s now or never. He takes some conspiratorial positions on COVID, vaccinations and Dr. Fauci which tapped into MAGA’s frustration and anger with the pandemic, the economy, establishment politics, and the white majority sunsetting into the minority… which leads him to get into bed with Roger Stone, Mike Flynn, Steve Bannon…and ultimately Trump.

“At 70 years old, running for President was the desperate move of a man who had presidential ambitions but saw the door rapidly closing on the opportunity for him to hold any political office. It was a Hail Mary,” Baldwin said. “For him to end his pursuit of the presidency and endorse Trump is not only a betrayal of the values and traditions of the Kennedy family but it is also a cynical, hypocritical betrayal of his own political beliefs and personal feelings about Trump which have been publicly documented for years and years.

“His endorsement of Trump demonstrates his political cowardice. He has sold his political soul and desecrated the historic work and legacy of his father Robert and his uncle President John Kennedy.

“The Kennedy family issued a statement: ‘Our brother Bobby’s decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story.’ His sister Kerry Kennedy added: ‘I am disgusted by my brother’s obscene embrace of Donald Trump. And I completely disavow and dissociate myself from Robert Kennedy Jr. and his flagrant efforts to desecrate my father’s memory.'”

Baldwin concluded: “I too completely disavow and dissociate myself from Bobby Kennedy Jr.”

Newsweek reached out to Kennedy’s team via email for comment.

In the replies, Baldwin, 61, responded to a commenter who criticized the Sliver star.

“Imagine being so weak-minded that you would abandon family and friends over political differences,” Leading Report co-founder @RealPatrickWebb said, adding that it was “embarrassing.”

“No… it’s just that things like ethics, values, morals, principles, character, integrity, loyalty, truth, facts, democracy… all mean for more to me than his or any friendship,” Baldwin responded.

“Why don’t keep it to yourself? Your attempt to be relevant by bashing him publicly is pathetic. No one cares what you think, esp Bobby,” @Renaefowler66 added.

Others, meanwhile, defended the actor.

“Well said. Decency matters,” @JenD59224222 wrote.

“Good answer. If it were only about policy differences….things would be different. But it’s so much more,” @CarolScholtz1 chimed in, while @onesarahwatters said: “Those pesky concepts! Good for you. This is what this election is about, @BillyBaldwin.”

At the time of publication, Baldwin’s X post had been viewed more than 3 million times and had over 7,700 comments.

In 2018, Kennedy—nephew of assassinated former president John F. Kennedy—called out Trump’s policies in an op-ed for NBC News.

“President Trump’s policies have been not to actively encourage democracy abroad, but to reach out to some of the most tyrannical governments in the world and to give them sustenance and encouragement,” he said at the time. “That’s a discredit to democracy.”

Trump the is Republican presidential candidate running against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election. Current president Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris in July after dropping out of the 2024 race.