RFK Jr bristles at question about endorsing Trump amid reports he’s dropping out of presidential race

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Robert F Kennedy Jr is faced with some crucial decisions regarding the future of his Independent presidential campaign. Amid reports that he may soon halt his campaign, Kennedy has refused to confirm or deny whether he is endorsing former president Donald Trump.

This comes at a pivotal moment for Kennedy’s campaign as it grapples with a series of electoral challenges and considers aligning with Trump—despite their political differences.

Nicole Shanahan hints campaign might be reassessing its future

Robert F Kennedy Jr is scheduled to address the nation on August 23, with many hoping it will clarify the direction of his campaign. This follows comments made by his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, a wealthy attorney from California who hinted that the campaign might be reassessing its future.

Shanahan, who has invested millions into Kennedy Jr's campaign, told the podcast 'Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu' that "one of the biggest mistakes of my life" was her past support for the Democrats. She said she's now "acknowledging how bad things are," and that "technically, we could win."

As the campaign faces growing pressure, Shanahan revealed that they are seriously considering whether to continue their Independent run or to support Trump.

"We are taking a very serious look at making sure the people that have corrupted our fair and free democracy do not end up in office in November," Shanahan said. "The question is, you know, is the risk of a Harris-Walz presidency worth us staying in?"

"And that's the question we have to ask ourselves right now. One: Do we trust Trump and his personal sincerity to really do the right thing for our country, end chronic disease, balance the budget, end these forever wars? Is he somebody that's going to continue to invite people like Bobby and I into the conversation, or is he going to fall victim again to the things he fell victim to in his first administration?" she continued.

The internal debate within the Kennedy Jr campaign is centered on two main options, according to Shanahan.

"There's two options that we're looking at, and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency, because we draw votes from Trump or we draw somehow more votes from Trump," she said. "Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump. And, you know, we walk away from that and we explain to our base why we're making this decision."

RFK Jr willing to talk with leaders of any political party to further goals

In response to the growing speculation, Robert F Kennedy Jr took to social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that he was "willing to talk with leaders of any political party to further the goals I have served for 40 years."

In another post, he suggested that the Democratic Party's self-proclaimed status as the "party of liberty" is misleading, comparing it to "the arsonist telling us he's a firefighter."

However, when directly questioned by ABC News about his campaign plans and a possible unity with Trump, Kennedy Jr was rather evasive. "I will not confirm or deny that. We are not talking about any of that," he snapped.

According to The Washington Post, Kennedy Jr has reached out to both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaigns, exploring the possibility of securing a cabinet position in exchange for his endorsement.

Kennedy Jr reportedly met with Trump in July to discuss the possibility of a policy role and a potential endorsement if he decided to end his campaign. However, the meeting did not result in any concrete agreement.

On August 15, Kennedy Jr’s campaign sought a meeting with Harris to discuss the possibility of joining her administration if he endorsed her. Despite these overtures, Harris and her team have reportedly shown little interest in engaging with Kennedy Jr.

Regardless, Trump has said he is open to offering Kennedy Jr a role in a future administration.

"He's a brilliant guy. He's a very smart guy. I've known him for a very long time," the former president told CNN on Tuesday. "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."

RFK Jr's campaign faces challenges including ballot access and legal battles

Since launching his campaign in April 2023, Robert F Kennedy Jr has faced a number of challenges in getting his name on the ballot across all 50 states. His efforts were dealt a severe blow on August 13 when a New York judge ruled that he does not meet the state’s residency requirements and therefore cannot appear on the ballot.

Kennedy Jr has argued that his official residence is in Katonah, New York, but the court’s decision has forced him to appeal and fight similar battles in three other states.

It's worth noting that independent candidates like Kennedy Jr usually face additional hurdles compared to their Republican and Democratic counterparts. State regulations often require Independents to collect thousands of signatures or gain support from a minor party to secure ballot access.

Despite these obstacles, Kennedy Jr remains on the ballot in 24 states, with confirmation pending in 22 others, The Sun reported.