Ethel Kennedy Was ‘Brokenhearted’ By Son RFK Jr.’s Challenging Joe Biden in the Democratic Primary

Ethel Kennedy did not support son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenging President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

In a new story published by New York magazine on August 25, the outlet pointed to Ethel — who died October 10, 2024 at the age of 96 — opting to stay silent when Robert, 71, announced in April 2023 that he was vying for the Democratic party’s nomination.

A family friend told the outlet, “The one who was brokenhearted — and the family won’t talk about it, but I saw it up close — was Ethel.”

New York magazine also reported that Ethel called Biden, 82, at the time to apologize for her son’s involvement, and the politician waved it off.

“You don’t have to,” he said, per the publication. “I know about these things.”

In October 2023, RFK Jr. announced he was running as an independent and in August 2024, he suspended the campaign entirely, opting to endorse President Donald Trump.

In February of this year, the environmental lawyer was sworn in as Health and Human Services secretary.

As Globe previously reported, the legendary Kennedy family remains divided regarding RFK Jr.’s controversial stances on several topics, including vaccines, and his decision to serve alongside President Trump in the White House.

In January, RFK Jr.’s cousin, Caroline Kennedy, shared a letter to senators that she read aloud on Instagram, noting he “lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience,” and explaining his position in the White House was “an enormous responsibility, and one that Bobby is unqualified to fill.”