Former President Donald Trump said he would be "honored" to have independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s endorsement after rumors of his exit from the 2024 race emerged.
Earlier this week, Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, indicated Kennedy may end his presidential campaign and join forces with Trump to prevent a potential Kamala Harris presidency. Shanahan, a former Democrat, later later said she would "fully support" Kennedy's partnership with the Trump administration.
Yesterday, ABC News reported that Kennedy would in fact end his presidential campaign and likely endorse Trump this Friday.
During a Thursday morning call-in to Fox News, the former president discussed a potential Kennedy endorsement in the coming days.
“So I’ve known him for a long time. As you know, he is a little different kind of a guy. Very smart guy and a very good person," Trump said of Kennedy. "If he endorsed me, I would be honored by it. He really has his heart in the right place. He is a respected person. Women love some of his policies and I guess some people don’t like some of his policies.”
The former president went on to say he believed Kennedy, also a former Democrat, had been prevented from receiving a fair shake this election season because "there was a good chance" he would have defeated President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary. Donald Trump calls into Fox & Friends this morning - tears apart Kamala Harris' border control, says he would be "honored" with the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. :
"He’s a – as you know, he is a little different kind of a guy. Very smart guy. He is a very good person. If… pic.twitter.com/HPhzIs59uJ
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) August 22, 2024
“I don’t know what he is right now, but he was a Democrat — they treated him very badly," Trump continued. "He goes around saying he would have beaten Biden in the primary. I think there was a good chance.”
Yesterday, Trump was asked if he was open to appointing Kennedy to a role in his administration.
“He’s a brilliant guy. He’s a very smart guy. I’ve known him for a very long time,” Trump said. “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.”
The former president said he would "love" Kennedy's endorsement, adding he "probably would" appoint Kennedy to a role in his administration.
“I like him a lot. I respect him a lot,” Trump continued. “I probably would, if something like that would happen. He’s a very different kind of a guy — a very smart guy. And, yeah, I would be honored by that endorsement, certainly.”
Kennedy is scheduled to address supporters on Friday in Phoenix. Trump will also hold a rally on Friday in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.
