Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has firmly denied rumors that he would drop out of the presidential race to endorse former President Donald Trump.
These rumors surfaced following a leaked phone call between Kennedy and Trump earlier this month, in which Trump was heard offering Kennedy a position in his administration if he won the election. During the call, Trump confidently predicted his victory in November, to which Kennedy responded affirmatively with, “Yeah.”
Despite the speculation triggered by this conversation, Kennedy took to social media to address and dismiss these claims. On X, the independent presidential candidate made it clear that he has no intentions of withdrawing from the race before the November election.
“I’m in it to win it,” Kennedy asserted. “I lead in popularity, and independents are now the largest voting bloc. Momentum is shifting in my favor as I close in on ballot access in all 50 states. I look forward to challenging President Trump and the DNC nominee at the next debate. #AmericaStrong.”
Kennedy and Trump have publicly praised each other on several occasions since launching their presidential bids, though they maintain distinct policy differences. According to ABC News, the pair last met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the RNC, where the idea of a potential role for Kennedy in a Trump administration was discussed. A source suggested that Kennedy might be considered for a position within the Health and Human Services Administration, which manages over $100 billion in annual spending.
Kennedy has been a vocal critic of the COVID-19 vaccine and has frequently clashed with Dr. Anthony Fauci over pandemic response measures. A Trump campaign spokesperson confirmed the Milwaukee meeting between Trump and Kennedy, emphasizing that Trump regularly engages with significant figures in business and politics in anticipation of his potential presidency.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, expressed her support for Kennedy’s discussion with Trump. “I was aware of it and support American Unity and health. We are willing to speak with anyone on unwinding the corporate capture of our agencies,” she said.
Kennedy’s statement was in response to Ryan Fournier, the chair of Students for Trump, who had claimed that Kennedy was canceling campaign events and considering endorsing Trump.
Kennedy’s determination to stay in the race comes after failing to qualify for last month’s presidential debate against Trump and President Joe Biden due to insufficient state ballot access. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the race, polls indicate that Kennedy is polling at just 5%, with California Governor Gavin Newsom leading among left-leaning politicians according to a New York Times/Siena College survey.