Former President Donald Trump met with Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. early Monday, prompting plenty of speculation.
The presumptive 2024 Republican nominee told Fox News’ Bret Baier that he would name his vice presidential running mate on Monday. Some suggested that RFK Jr. was in contention for the job, but that talk was squashed when Trump named Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his running mate.
So, why were the two meeting? According to Mediaite, which cited a Kennedy campaign insider, “The former president and the Independent candidate had a ‘lengthy conversation’ during which ‘there was some discussion over Bobby playing a future role in the [Trump] administration and what that role might be.'”
The source added that Trump “was evaluating Bobby’s potential.”
“Yes, Mr. Kennedy met with President Trump today to discuss national unity, and he hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic Party as well. And no he is not dropping out of the race. He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-war candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls,” Kennedy campaign Press Secretary Stefanie Spear said in a statement to the outlet.
Kennedy echoed that sentiment in a post on X: “Lots of rumors going around about my meeting this morning with President Trump. Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well. No, I am not dropping out of the race.”
Lots of rumors going around about my meeting this morning with President Trump. Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well. No, I am not dropping out of the race.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) July 15, 2024
Interestingly, President Biden ordered the Secret Serve to begin protective services for Kennedy during his long-shot bid for the presidency.
The development comes after a would-be assassin inexplicably managed to fire on Trump from a perch less than 150 yards from the stage he was standing on — Trump was struck in his right ear by a bullet while one rallygoer was killed and two others were seriously wounded.
Finally you got SS protection today. You deserved it months ago. pic.twitter.com/wOyaJiMBqZ
— Roleigh Martin (@RoleighMartin) July 15, 2024
Biden was resistant to provide Secret Service protection for RFK Jr., despite an incident in October, when a man was arrested after trespassing twice in one day at Kennedy’s Los Angeles home, and a September incident where an armed man accused of impersonating a federal officer was taken into custody outside a Kennedy campaign event, according to ABC News.
It goes without saying that Kennedy’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, were both assassinated.
“Thank you, President Biden, for extending me Secret Service protection,” RFK Jr. said in a statement.
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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