RFK Jr. Endorses Trump in Hopes of Cabinet Position

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his presidential run at a press conference in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday, Aug. 23. He appeared later in the day at a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Glendale, Ariz., giving his full endorsement of the Republican nominee. Many sources said Trump promised a cabinet position to Kennedy in exchange for his support.

“While announcing his decision, Kennedy said Trump had ‘asked to enlist [Kennedy] in his administration,’ though Kennedy did not specify a role,” Brandy Zadronzy wrote in an NBC article, which suggested Kennedy was being considered for a health secretary.

According to the same article, “HHS oversees 13 agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. On the campaign trail, in podcasts, and in news interviews, Kennedy has described wanting to dismantle those offices and rebuild them with like-minded fringe figures.”

Kennedy’s running mate, attorney Nicole Shanahan, had previously hinted at Kennedy suspending his campaign on Aug. 20.

During his unconventional run, Kennedy made numerous attacks against Trump, President Joe Biden, and Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris. He accused them of giving in to corporate interest and putting the country in endless wars, like the ones in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.

As for why Kennedy dropped out at this stage, Scott Braam, Adjunct Professor of Political Science and Urban Studies at Elmhurst University, said, “I don’t want to be conspiratorial because I have no clue. If you were conspiratorial, you could think maybe he was never really running to win, maybe he was running to just get a job. He clearly can’t win, and he made a deal with the Trump campaign. I don’t think it was too strategic.”

Regarding Kennedy’s endorsement, Braam said, “I think it’s quid pro quo. I think he would have done it for the Harris campaign. I don’t think he’s ideological, I think he’s just opportunistic.”

“I think it’s a little bit of a ruse. I think Trump understands the media well, and he also knows he is also losing a little bit, and I think he would do anything to gain votes, and I think for him he thought it would be helpful,” said Braam, indicating Kennedy’s endorsement may have also been intended to benefit Trump.

Since suspending his campaign, Kennedy has since taken steps to get his name removed from the ballot in several battleground states, including Arizona and Pennsylvania, ahead of the 2024 presidential election.