Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed on Wednesday that he will deliver a speech on Friday to address his future in the presidential race. Scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT in Phoenix, the address will cover “the present historical moment and his path forward,” according to his campaign.
This announcement fuels speculation that Kennedy may end his campaign and endorse former President Trump, who has expressed openness to offering Kennedy a role in his administration. Trump indicated on CNN, “I respect him, and if he’s thinking about exiting, I’d be open to it.”
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, hinted in a podcast that they are contemplating joining forces with Trump. She stated, “We’re considering two options: forming a new party and risking a Harris-Walz presidency by splitting votes from Trump or aligning with Trump and explaining our decision to our supporters.”
Shanahan emphasized the gravity of their decision, aiming to do what’s best for the country. Trump had previously reached out to Kennedy during the Republican National Convention, encouraging him to collaborate with the Trump campaign.
Kennedy’s candidacy has been labeled a “spoiler” by some analysts, suggesting his presence might inadvertently benefit one of the major party candidates. Recent polls show Kennedy’s impact is more detrimental to Trump’s chances than to Vice President Harris’s. In a three-way race, Harris leads by 4.6 points, with Kennedy trailing at 2.8 percent, while Harris holds a 3-point lead over Trump in a two-way race.