It was one week ago that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a lifelong Democrat from arguably the most prominent Democratic family, effectively suspended his campaign and all but entirely dropped out of the 2024 race.

Yet, rather than throw his support behind the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, Kennedy instead endorsed her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, and has since accepted a position on Trump's transition team for a prospective second term, CBS News reported.

That stunning turn-about shocked the political world and, while it is certainly too soon to tell, could prove to be a deciding factor in Trump ultimately defeating Harris in November's election.

Kennedy joins Trump's transition team following endorsement

It was last Friday when Kennedy delivered a major speech that thoroughly condemned the current Democratic Party for its grossly anti-democratic behaviors and revealed his intention to essentially join forces with former President Trump to ensure Harris would not win the presidency.

Just a few days later, Kennedy was joined in that regard by another prominent former Democratic congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who similarly endorsed Trump as the anti-war candidate in a race against the seemingly pro-war Harris.

CBS News reported that the Trump campaign confirmed on Tuesday the rumors that both Kennedy and Gabbard, who were welcomed with open arms by Trump and his campaign, were named as honorary co-chairs of Trump's transition team, which will help select personnel and policies for a second Trump term in the White House.

Kennedy and Gabbard will serve as co-chairs alongside Trump's eldest sons, Don Jr. and Eric, Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), former Small Business Administration head Linda McMahon, and Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick.

"As President Trump's broad coalition of supporters and endorsers expands across partisan lines, we are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team," Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes said in a statement. "We look forward to having their powerful voices on the team as we work to restore America's greatness."

Critical battleground states refuse to remove Kennedy from ballots

Unfortunately, not every aspect of Kennedy's plan to suspend his campaign and support the candidacy of former President Trump has gone smoothly, as his efforts to avoid being a "spoiler" for Trump in critical battleground states by withdrawing from the ballots there have hit a snag, largely thanks to vindictive Democrats.

According to a separate report from CBS News, the Democrat-controlled election boards in three important swing states denied Kennedy's request to remove his name from their respective ballots.

Those three states that have insisted on Kennedy remaining on the ballot despite his expressed desire to be removed include Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, all three of which could prove to be deciding states in November's election.

Kennedy did succeed in removing himself from the ballot in seven other crucial states, however, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

What will happen with Kennedy's supporters?

According to RealClearPolling's average of multi-candidate national polls, VP Harris currently leads former President Trump by around 2 points, 46.8-44.7%, with Kennedy still drawing 4.5% support and other third-party candidates -- including leftist Green Party nominee Jill Stein, leftist independent Cornel West, and leftist Libertarian Party nominee Chase Oliver -- all garnering 1% or less.

It remains unclear at this point how many of Kennedy's tens of thousands of supporters across the nation will heed his call and similarly throw their support behind Trump when it comes time to cast their ballot, potentially propelling the former GOP president past the incumbent Democratic VP.