Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, has claimed that allies of former President Donald Trump approached him about potentially joining Trump’s presidential ticket as the vice-presidential nominee.
Kennedy shared this information in a post on the social platform X, stating, “President Trump calls me an ultra-left radical. I’m soooo liberal that his emissaries asked me to be his VP. I respectfully declined the offer.” He further criticized both Trump and President Joe Biden, implying that Trump sees him as a genuine electoral threat.
The Trump campaign has denied these allegations. Chris LaCivita, a top aide for Trump, reiterated on X that Kennedy would never be considered for the ticket, describing him as a “leftie loonie.” This statement was supported by previous comments from January, emphasizing the consistency of their stance on this matter.
Adding to the controversy, a pro-Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., launched a website labeling Kennedy as a “radical liberal,” highlighting his progressive stances on issues like tax policy, gun laws, and climate change.
Reports from reputable sources like The New York Post and The New York Times have mentioned that Trump’s team had explored the idea of Kennedy as a running mate, and Trump himself had mentioned it, though it was not considered a serious proposition.
Trump has publicly criticized Kennedy, labeling him as the “most Radical Left Candidate in the race” and arguing that Kennedy’s candidacy would likely draw votes away from Biden, potentially benefiting Trump in a tightly contested election.
This development comes as polling indicates a very close race between Trump and Biden, with recent results showing them nearly tied. Political analysts suggest that Kennedy’s independent run could influence the outcome by siphoning votes in key states, possibly affecting the final result of the presidential election.