Robert F. Kennedy Jnr weighs dropping US presidential bid to join up with Donald Trump
- Running mate Nicole Shanahan says they risk drawing votes from the ex-US president’s supporters, clearing the way for Kamala Harris
Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jnr is considering ending his campaign to join forces with Republican rival Donald Trump, Kennedy’s running mate said in an interview posted online on Tuesday.
The US vice-presidential candidate, Nicole Shanahan, said that as independents she and Kennedy ran the risk of drawing support from would-be Trump voters and clearing the way for Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to win the November election.
“Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump,” she told Los Angeles media company Impact Theory. Asked when they would make a decision, she did not say.
Trump told CNN on Tuesday he would “certainly be open” to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if the independent candidate drops out of the race and endorses him.
“I like him, and I respect him,” Trump told the network in an interview after a campaign stop in Michigan.
“He’s a brilliant guy. He’s a very smart guy. I’ve known him for a very long time,” Trump was quoted as saying by CNN. “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.”
