Special Poll
Following his withdrawal, Kennedy has focused on legal battles to remove his name from ballots in key swing states, facing challenges in states like North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Reports indicate that Donald Trump seriously considered making Robert F. Kennedy Jr. his running mate for the 2024 election, intrigued by how “Trump-Kennedy” would sound on the Republican ticket.
Despite a history of public clashes during the campaign, there were efforts behind the scenes from both Trump and Kennedy’s teams to unite them as a political force.
Sources revealed that Trump has always been drawn to the Kennedy name and had considered naming RFK Jr. as his vice-presidential candidate as recently as April.
Kennedy’s continued presence in the race was seen as a threat to Trump, particularly in key battleground states, prompting discussions of running negative ads against him.
A turning point came after an assassination attempt on Trump in July, leading to a phone call between Trump and Kennedy, facilitated by Calley Means, a healthcare entrepreneur.
Initially, Kennedy reportedly declined the vice-presidential offer, but after the assassination attempt, he reconsidered and reached out to Trump.
The phone conversation, which occurred shortly after the attempt on Trump’s life, aimed to foster unity, with Trump trying to convince Kennedy to drop his independent candidacy.
However, after Kennedy’s son leaked parts of the conversation, Trump’s team lost trust in Kennedy, and communication between the camps ceased.
Eventually, Trump selected Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate at the Republican National Convention, where he formally accepted the nomination.
Following the convention, President Joe Biden’s campaign faced challenges, including a COVID-19 diagnosis and declining poll numbers.
Two weeks after Biden exited the race, Trump’s campaign, realizing the need for every vote in battleground states, reopened discussions with Kennedy.
Trump and Kennedy met again at Mar-a-Lago on August 12, although there were reservations on both sides, including concerns from Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines, and Trump’s team.
A significant sticking point was Kennedy’s strong anti-vaccine stance, which conflicted with Trump’s Operation Warp Speed initiative.
Despite their differences, Kennedy dropped out of the race on August 23, publicly backing Trump during an event in Glendale, Arizona.
Kennedy has since been named as co-chair of Trump’s campaign transition team, with the possibility of a role in Trump’s administration, potentially leading the Health and Human Services Department.