PHOENIX, Aug 22, (AP): Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr will speak Friday "about the present historical moment and his path forward,” his campaign announced Wednesday, fueling growing speculation that Kennedy could drop out and support Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Kennedy's running mate openly discussed the possibility on a podcast this week, saying the campaign was considering a move to "join forces” with Trump to limit the election chance of Kamala Harris, whose Democratic convention winds up Thursday night in Chicago.
The move would have once seemed unthinkable for Kennedy, a Democrat for most of his life and - as the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy - a member of a beloved Democratic dynasty.
Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy's son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.
Kennedy will give a speech in Phoenix, hours before Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. A spokesperson for Kennedy, Stefanie Spear, declined to say whether he planned to drop out or why he chose Arizona for his speech.
Trump and Kennedy have been in regular contact in recent weeks, including a meeting in Milwaukee as Republicans gathered for their national convention last month.
He told CNN Tuesday that he would "love” an endorsement from the independent candidate, whom he called a "brilliant guy.”
He also said he would "certainly” be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy drops out and endorses him instead.
"He’s a very smart guy. I’ve known him for a very long time,” Trump told the network. "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.”