Former President Trump praised independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday for considering dropping out of the race and potentially supporting Trump instead.
During a phone call with Fox & Friends, Trump spoke highly of Kennedy, calling him a unique and intelligent person. He expressed his honor and respect for Kennedy and acknowledged the differences in policy views held by supporters and critics.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, indicated that due to unfair challenges faced during the campaign, including social media shadow banning and legal obstacles, their team is considering either forming a new party or aligning with the Republican presidential candidate, Trump.
Shanahan highlighted the dilemma of continuing with the current campaign obstacles or joining forces with Trump to better represent their electoral base. Considerations include the risk of taking votes away from Trump if they form a new party.
Questions surrounding Trump’s potential commitment to positive change for the country and his willingness to include diverse perspectives in decision-making processes were emphasized as pivotal in the decision-making process.
Sources close to both Kennedy and Trump’s campaign teams suggest that Kennedy may announce his withdrawal from the race to endorse Trump, though nothing has been finalized yet.
Trump has expressed openness to involving Kennedy in future government roles and has engaged in discussions with him regarding potential support during the Republican National Convention.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the late Senator Robert Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, has been striving to maintain his appeal to voters at the age of 70. Despite peaking in the polls, he faces a challenging competition against Trump and Democratic nominee Harris.
Recent obstacles, such as legal disputes over residency affecting ballot access, have hindered Kennedy’s campaign’s momentum. Disputes over ballot access in New York indicate bias in the legal proceedings, with Kennedy’s team vowing to appeal and labeling it as a partisan dispute.
Kennedy’s team remains determined to fight against obstacles that hinder voter choice, stating their intent to appeal and succeed in the electoral process.
The announcement of Kennedy’s next steps will be made in Arizona on Friday, coinciding with Trump’s speech in the Grand Canyon State.