Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce the end of his presidential campaign on Friday and throw his support behind Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear said Wednesday that the independent candidate, who’s polling at around 5%, would address the nation live on Friday regarding “the present historical moment and his path forward.”
While sources told ABC News the 70-year-old political scion could still change his mind, he’s expected to endorse Trump, who has indicated he might return the favor should he come to power after November’s election.
Trump called Kennedy last month to say “it would be so good for [me] and so good for you” if the pair came to an agreement, which could mean a cabinet position for Kennedy.
Kennedy verified on social media that he’ll be speaking on Friday, but would “not confirm or deny” reports of his alleged intentions to support the Republican ticket.
In an email Wednesday, his campaign manager expressed gratitude for staffers’ efforts, according to ABC News, but said what’s coming next is uncertain. Kennedy’s campaign has not responded to a request for comment regarding the future of his presidential bid.
The Democrats have been surging since choosing Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate to challenge Trump last month. She became the party’s pick after President Joe Biden announced July 21 he would not seek reelection. She officially got the nomination at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Kennedy’s address is scheduled to take place the day after that convention ends.
His running mate and major donor, Nicole Shanahan, indicated on a Tuesday podcast that their campaign was considering whether to hang around and strengthen their odds for future endeavors or quit now to “join forces with Donald Trump.”
While the Kennedy name is synonymous with Democratic Party politics, the son of slain 1968 presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy frequently rails against the party’s current establishment.
“My father and my uncle were members of a Democratic Party that was at the forefront of making sure that every American could vote for the candidate they wanted to,” he said in a video posted late Tuesday. “Today’s Democratic Party is doing the opposite.”
Numerous Kennedy family members have spoken out against RFK Jr.’s “saddening” candidacy. An open letter signed by several relatives in March questioned his “values, vision [and] judgment,” while denouncing his ambitions as dangerous to the nation.
He launched his campaign as a Democrat before pivoting to run as an independent.
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