Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday that he will address his political future in a national address on Friday.
The speech will focus on “the current historical moment and his path forward,” a press release said. From his election campaignwhich is scheduled to take place in Phoenix at 2 p.m. EDT, he added.
The speech came amid growing speculation that Kennedy might end his campaign and endorse the candidacy of former President Donald Trump, who has said he is open to giving Kennedy a role in his administration.
“I wasn’t aware that he was considering withdrawing, but if he was considering withdrawing, of course I would be open to that,” Trump said in an interview with CNN on Tuesday.
“I respect him,” he added.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said in a podcast released Tuesday that she and Kennedy are exploring their options and are considering working with the Trump campaign.
“We are seriously considering ensuring that those who have corrupted our fair and free democracy are not in power in November,” she said.
“There are two options we are considering: one is to stay, [a new political party]But with Kamala Harris [Harris running mate Tim] “We’re not going to put Walz in office to try to draw votes away from Trump,” she said, “or we can either back out now and align ourselves with Donald Trump and explain to his supporters why we’re making this decision.”
Shanahan said the decision was a difficult one and that he and Kennedy want what’s best for the country.
President Trump spoke to Kennedy by phone at the Republican National Convention last month, and leaked recordings of the call showed Trump pleading for Kennedy’s support.
“I’d love for you to do something,” Trump said in an audio clip posted online, “and I think it would be a very good thing for you, and a great accomplishment, and we’re going to win.”
Kennedy’s campaign has been called “obstructive” by some commentators who worry that his stance on the race could garner support for one of the two major party candidates.
Since Harris replaced Biden as the party’s top Democrat two months ago, polls have suggested Kennedy’s presence on the campaign trail is doing more damage to Trump’s chances of victory than hers.
The Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average of national polls in the hypothetical three-way race gives Harris a 4.6-point lead with 48.3 percent approval, compared with Trump’s 43.7 percent and Kennedy’s 2.8 percent.
Harris currently leads Trump by three points, 49.4% to 46.4%, in the two-candidate race, according to an average of national polls.
