Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, disagrees with his support for Donald Trump.
Speaking to TMZ, Kennedy said he supported the former president against his wife’s wishes, calling it a “very difficult issue” for her.
“This is the opposite of what she would want to do,” he said. “She went along with it because she loves me and she wanted to support me, but it was not something she ever encouraged, I would say.”
Kennedy said his wife encouraged him — “out of compassion” — to accept an invitation to meet with Trump after the July assassination attempt. He said she attended a meeting he had with Trump at the time to make sure no “hasty decisions” were made.
“Her fear and discomfort about this … were the dominant feelings,” said Kennedy, who last week suspended his independent candidacy for president after initially seeking the Democratic nomination. “She’s a lifelong Democrat, and the idea that I would support Donald Trump for president was just … something she never imagined, never wanted in her life.”
Hines had has released a statement about X after her husband left the race to thank those who worked on his campaign, but the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star made no mention of his support for Trump.
The decision has been made to suspend the presidency of my husband, Robert Kennedy Jr., and I would like to express a sincere, heartfelt thanks to all those who worked so tirelessly and lovingly on his campaign. They have accomplished what has been said to be…
—Cheryl Hines (@CherylHines) August 23, 2024
Hines has had to distance herself from her husband’s political views before, such as when he brought up the Holocaust during an anti-vaccination rally.
She has also faced criticism from her colleagues over Kennedy, with “The West Wing” star Bradley Whitford calling her out last week for remaining silent about her husband’s support for Trump. Kennedy told TMZ he had to “quell some strong feelings” about Whitford’s comments, which he called “a blueprint for bullying.”
Hines’ disdain for Trump was clear long before her husband dropped out of the race. Earlier this year, when a Variety reporter asked Kennedy if he would accept an offer to be Trump’s running mate, he pointed to Hines and said, “I don’t think my marriage would survive.”
Hines replied, “I think he’s right.”
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
