Kennedy family July 4 photo 2023.Photo:Instagram/kerrykennedyrfk
Instagram/kerrykennedyrfk
In what has become an annual tradition, nearly the entireKennedy familygathered on Tuesday for their annual Fourth of July family gathering, with one notable exception:Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
A source tells PEOPLE that the absence of RFK Jr. — the 69-year-old nephew of late PresidentJohn F. Kennedyand son of late U.S. Attorney GeneralRobert F. Kennedy— is due to the fact that he’s currently campaigning for president.
RFK Jr. has butted heads with his family members in the past, particularly when it comes to his rhetoric surrounding COVID-19 and vaccines. Just last year, three members of the family wrote anop-ed in Politicodenouncing him for pushing anti-vaccination theories online.
In April, more fractures appeared when RFK Jr. announced his plan to challengeJoe Bidenforthe presidency in 2024.
The Kennedys have, throughout the past several decades, connected with Biden on multiple fronts, including over their shared Catholic faith, familiarity with loss and, of course, political influence. In July 2022, Biden appointed JFK’s daughter,Caroline Kennedy, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia.
Kennedy’s youngest brother, Doug Kennedy, a correspondent for FOX News Channel, told PEOPLE at the time that his brother “has immense political talent,” but that while he’s loved in the family, “not everyone agrees with his positions.”
In his first official press conference as a presidential candidate, held in April, RFK Jr. acknowledged that some of his family members “just plain disagree” with his views.
“My whole family including myself have long personal relationships with President Biden … and many of them just plain disagree with me on issues like censorship and war and public health,” Kennedy added. “They are entitled to their beliefs…and I love them back.”
In the video, a large group can be seen standing near the water in Hyannis Port as Kerry, holding the camera, can be heard urging those gathered to wish brother Chris a Happy Birthday.
“Happy Birthday Chris!” Kerry captioned the video, adding: “and our beautiful, striving, evolving, majestic, diverse country.”
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Over the years, the Kennedy family pic has been something of aWhere’s Waldofor fans of the political dynasty — including fans of movie starChris Pratt, who was pictured in the image back in 2019 with his wifeKatherine Schwarzenegger. Pratt wasspotted toward the back of the shotnext to his wife with a big smile on his face.
TheGuardians of the Galaxyactor married into the Kennedys when he wed Katherine, whose great uncle was JFK and whose parents areArnold SchwarzeneggerandMaria Shriver.
Previous images have included several notable faces from the family — like 2022’s family pic which includedConor Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy’s grandson, and his model girlfriendAva Dash.
source: people.com
