'He doesn't want to win': RFK Jr faces backlash amid reports that he will tap attorney Nicole Shanahan as running mate
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr is reportedly set to announce Nicole Shanahan, a California attorney and entrepreneur, as his running mate for the upcoming election.
The news comes amidst speculation surrounding Kennedy's vice-presidential pick, which is expected to be officially unveiled on March 26 in Oakland, CA.
Shanahan's background and alignment with Kennedy
Shanahan, a prominent Democratic donor with ties to Silicon Valley, gained attention for her significant contribution to Kennedy's Super Bowl campaign commercial, a move that underscored her financial support for the independent candidate's bid for the presidency.
“They align on numerous issues,” a source close to the campaign told Mediaite of Kennedy and Shanahan. “The campaign is also looking for a candidate who can help finance the ballot access initiative."
The insider added, “She might be infusing millions of dollars into the campaign to help fund the ballot initiative, which makes her attractive financially; however, she lacks the qualifications to actually do the job.”
However, concerns have been raised about Shanahan's qualifications for the role, with some questioning her ability to effectively serve as vice president. Despite this, her financial backing and shared views with Kennedy on issues such as vaccine safety and children's health have positioned her as a strategic choice for the campaign.
The confirmation of Shanahan's candidacy is further supported by the recent registration of the domain www.kennedyshanahan.com, which was discovered by Mediaite. Additionally, the donation page hosted on the subdomain pay.kennedyshanahan.com - verified to be active and accepting donations - further solidifies Shanahan's involvement in Kennedy's campaign.
Notably, Shanahan's potential selection sidelines previous considerations of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers as Kennedy's running mate, a decision that has stirred speculation among political observers.
Kennedy's campaign, however, has remained tight-lipped about the vice-presidential pick. “There has been a lot of speculation in the media about Mr. Kennedy’s pick of vice presidential running mate,” they told the New York Post in a statement. “The official announcement will be on March 26 in Oakland, CA. We hope to see you there.”
Shanahan's background includes notable contributions to political causes, including a $4 million donation to the super PAC American Values 2024, which funded a high-profile Super Bowl commercial advocating for children's health.
Despite her association with Kennedy and her progressive stance on various issues, Shanahan's personal life has also drawn attention. She was previously married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin in 2018. However, their marriage officially ended last summer after reports surfaced of Shanahan's romantic involvement with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The alleged affair between Shanahan and Musk reportedly led to tensions between Musk and Brin, who were previously close friends, per a Wall Street Journal report. Musk denied the allegations, emphasizing that his interactions with Shanahan were not romantic.
“This is total bs,” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) in July 2022, responding to the WSJ article. “I’ve only seen Nicole twice in three years, both times with many other people around. Nothing romantic,” he added.
Social media unimpressed by rumors
Social media was inundated with reactions amid reports that Kennedy had chosen Shanahan as his running mate.
"Nope nope nope," one posted on X.
"Ugh now he’ll never get any conservative votes," another wrote.
"She's cute, but he doesn't really want to win, does he?" someone else wondered.
"He's not a serious person," a comment read.
"It won’t make any difference," another chimed in.
She's cute, but he doesn't really want to win does he?
— Felt Football (@FeltFootball) March 16, 2024
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