This Friday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to shake things up by delivering a major speech in Phoenix — at the same time and city as President Donald Trump’s rally. Kennedy, who ditched his Democrat bid to run as an independent, will take the stage at 2 p.m. ET to discuss “the present historical moment and our path forward.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Kennedy told ABC News that he’s expected to bow out of the presidential race by week’s end and endorse Trump. But when pressed, Kennedy played coy, telling ABC, “I will not confirm or deny that.”
“We are not talking about any of that,” Kennedy said. Sources also indicated that the decision is still pending and subject to change. One source noted that Kennedy has aimed to expedite the process of dropping out, partly to counteract any momentum gained from the DNC.
“I think it was a coronation, it’s not democracy. Nobody voted. Who chose Kamala? It wasn’t voters.” Kennedy told ABC News about the convention. “She [Kamala] went in four weeks from being the worst liability for the Democratic Party to the second coming of Christ without giving one interview, without showing up for a debate, without a single policy that anyone thinks isn’t ridiculous. It’s not democracy.”
There’s chatter about Kennedy possibly sharing the stage with Trump at a Phoenix event this Friday, but sources warned that Kennedy’s plans could shift. Additionally, Trump’s team has yet to lock in any plans for Friday. Kennedy’s campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox, sent an email to senior staff Wednesday morning commending their dedication but noted that a final strategy decision remains pending, according to a source familiar with the email who spoke to ABC News.
Fox wrote, “There are a couple potential paths forward, not only two, and I can bear witness to the care, examination that Bobby has invested in the consideration of each.”
Getting Kennedy’s name on ballots has been an uphill battle due to stringent state requirements for independent candidates, which often demand thousands of signatures or support from a minor party. On Tuesday Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy’s running mate, hinted at two strategic options: pushing forward with their campaign or potentially aligning with Trump to avoid “risking” a Harris-Walz presidency.
“If we get over 5% of the vote, we actually establish ourselves as a party,” Shanahan said, pointing out the potential long-term benefits of remaining in the race. “There’s two options that we’re looking at.” The first involves staying in the race and laying the groundwork for a substantial third-party challenge in 2028. This path would avoid the hefty expenses associated with securing ballot access and would allow the party to focus resources on campaigning. “Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.”
In an NBC News interview on Wednesday, Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), revealed that there’s been “a lot of communication back and forth” between Kennedy and their campaign. “I haven’t spoken to RFK personally, but I know there’s been a lot of communication back and forth between RFK, between the campaign, between this campaign,” Vance explained.
“Look, our argument to RFK, and I’ll make it right now, because, of course, he hasn’t dropped out yet, is, look: If you want a Democratic Party that protected American workers and stood for strong borders, maybe disagreed with Republicans on things like tax policy, that party doesn’t exist anymore.”
“I know the president’s been working hard for that, but it’s completely separate from whether RFK gets a Cabinet position,” Vance continued. “It’s about welcoming a lot of those Democrats who feel abandoned by the party of Kamala Harris.”
Recent polls indicate a tight race heading into the election season, but only between two candidates. Kennedy trails both leaders by irredeemable margins at just roughly 3.0% in most polls. Kennedy’s presidential campaign has encountered numerous setbacks and controversies, significantly impacting his visibility and polling numbers.
