Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is planning to address the nation about the future of his 2024 presidential campaign at an event in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday. The independent candidate’s address comes amid speculation that Kennedy could endorse former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
According to Kennedy’s campaign website, the event will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday and will be live-streamed on X, formerly Twitter, and other social media platforms. The event announcement states, “Independent Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will address the nation live on Friday about the present historical moment and his path forward.”
Kennedy’s announcement comes after his vice presidential running mate, Nicole Shanahan, acknowledged that the independent candidate was considering dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing Trump to prevent Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) from winning the election.
“We are taking a very serious look at making sure that the people that have corrupted our fair and free democracy do not end up in office in November,” Shanahan said. “There’s two options that we’re looking at, and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Tim] Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump.”
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Shanahan added that the other option would be to “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump … and we explain to our base why we’re making this decision.”
Shanahan noted that the Kennedy campaign had been in communication with the Trump campaign. She said, “What we are hearing from the Trump camp is very positive.”
Asked on Tuesday whether he would consider giving Kennedy a position in his administration if the independent candidate dropped out of the race and endorsed him, Trump told CNN, “I like him a lot. I respect him a lot. I probably would, if something like that [an endorsement] would happen,” Trump told CNN.
On Tuesday, Trump also told CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes, “He’s a brilliant guy. He’s a very smart guy. I’ve known him for a very long time. 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.”
Trump previously spoke with Kennedy over the phone during the Republican National Convention last month. In a leaked video of the phone call, Trump can be heard telling Kennedy, “I would love you to do something, and I think it’ll be so good for you and so big for you, and we’re going to win.”
The Daily Wire noted that Kennedy’s live address to the nation on Friday in Phoenix comes as the former president is currently scheduled to hold a rally in Glendale, Arizona.
