Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering ending his run for president and throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump instead, Kennedy’s running mate Nicole Shanahan said during a podcast posted Tuesday, while Trump told CNN on Tuesday he would “certainly” be open to giving Kennedy a role in his administration if he’s elected to a second term.
Shanahan discussed the RFK Jr. campaign's next moves in a podcast published Tuesday.
Shanahan told entrepreneur and YouTuber Tom Bilyeu in an interview the campaign is thinking about ending its run to “join forces” with Trump and “explain to our base why we’re making this decision.”
Shanahan also said the campaign is considering staying in and attempting to capture 5% of the popular vote to form an alternative to Republicans and Democrats, though she said that course of action runs the risk of drawing votes from Trump.
Shanahan, a tech lawyer and entrepreneur, said it is “not an easy decision” for the campaign to make.
Trump told CNN’s Kristen Holmes on Tuesday he did not know Kennedy was thinking about withdrawing, lauding the independent’s intellect and saying he could tap him for an administration role in a second term.
The running mate did not specify why, exactly, the campaign was considering dropping out, and did not mention the campaign’s fundraising obstacles.
Kennedy is polling at 4.9% in national polls according to FiveThirtyEight’s weighted average, down 0.6 points since the start of the month.
“I didn’t know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I’d be open to it,” Trump told CNN.
A large part of the Kennedy campaign’s spending last month was allocated toward ballot access, according to Politico, as Kennedy was recently disqualified from a spot on New York's general election ballot after a judge ruled the candidate used a bogus New York residence on his nomination petitions. Kennedy appealed the ruling, arguing New York residency rules do not apply to presidential candidates and placing blame on the Democratic party.
A Kennedy-Trump alliance would build off a mixed relationship between the two candidates. Both major parties fear Kennedy could draw votes from them and act as a spoiler, but since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Kennedy is now believed to be a boon for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to The Washington Post, which noted there is increasing evidence Kennedy is now more likely to pull votes from Trump than the vice president. The shifting dynamic would make an endorsement from Kennedy even more valuable for Trump, who reportedly met with Kennedy last month to seek an endorsement amid rumors the independent candidate may drop out, but the talks fell through in part because he pushed for a job in the administration, The Washington Post reported. Kennedy also tried to meet with Harris to talk about a Cabinet role, according to the Post.
Kennedy's Campaign: A Spoiler or a Catalyst?
Shanahan expressed concern that the RFK Jr. campaign could be a “spoiler” candidate for Trump, inadvertently helping the former president win the election. “We run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump,” Shanahan said, referring to the Democratic nominee for vice president, Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Shanahan also argued that the campaign’s presence on the ballot could help to create a new third-party alternative to the Republican and Democratic parties.
A Potential Shift in Dynamics
The potential for a Kennedy-Trump alliance could have a significant impact on the 2024 election. Some analysts believe that Kennedy is more likely to draw votes from Trump than from Harris. This could make an endorsement from Kennedy even more valuable for Trump, who has been looking for ways to increase his support among independent voters.
The Future of the Campaign
It remains to be seen whether Kennedy will ultimately drop out of the race and endorse Trump. However, Shanahan’s comments suggest that the campaign is seriously considering this option.
The Risk of Harris-Walz Presidency
Shanahan is concerned about the risk of a Harris-Walz presidency, stating that the campaign could inadvertently draw votes away from Trump and help the Democratic ticket win. She acknowledged the campaign's potential for being a spoiler, but also expressed a desire to build a new third-party alternative to the two major parties.
The End of an Era?
The potential for Kennedy to drop out of the race and endorse Trump would mark a significant shift in the 2024 election. It would also be a major development in the relationship between the two candidates, who have been seen as both allies and rivals in the past. The decision will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the race, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the coming weeks.
