Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has asserted that individuals associated with Donald Trump’s team reached out to him regarding the possibility of being the Republican presidential frontrunner’s running mate in the 2024 election, should he secure the GOP nomination.
Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic who initially ran for the Democratic presidential nomination before opting to run as an independent, disclosed this information during an interview with NewsNation.
When asked about his response if Trump were to ask him to be his vice-presidential pick, Kennedy Jr. stated, “I would not take that job. I’m flattered that President Trump would offer it to me, but it’s not something that I’m interested in.” The interviewer pressed further, asking if people from Trump’s team had reached out to him, to which Kennedy Jr. confirmed, “People from the team reached out to me.”
A brief 25-second clip of the interview was shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of the self-styled ‘pro-democracy’ media outlet Meidas Touch.
Although Trump denies it, RFK Jr says Team Trump did reach out to him to see if he would be Trump’s running mate, and he turned it down. pic.twitter.com/oUhqUD8eJH
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 29, 2024
Additionally, the New York Post reported on January 27 that Trump’s team had shown interest in Kennedy Jr. as the potential vice-presidential pick, citing insiders. A source cited by the publication mentioned, “Trump operatives expressed an interest in Kennedy early on, but it was all premature. Anything’s possible. I wouldn’t write it off by any means.”
Trump’s recent victories in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary and the Iowa caucus have led to speculation about his choice for a vice-presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
Christopher Devine, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton, Ohio, predicts that Trump will prioritize loyalty in his selection process, possibly considering individuals like Tim Scott, Kristi Noem, or Nikki Haley, who have demonstrated allegiance to him.
Devine also highlighted the possibility of candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy and Elise Stefanik, each bringing different qualities to the table in terms of loyalty and experience.
