Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday he will address his political future in a Friday speech to the nation.
The address will focus on “the present historical moment and his path forward,” a press release from his campaign said, adding it will take place in Phoenix at 2 p.m. EDT.
The speech comes amid speculation that Kennedy might end his campaign and back the bid of former President Trump, who has said he is open to giving Kennedy a role in his administration.
“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,” Trump said in a CNN interview Tuesday.
“I respect him,” he added.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said in a podcast released Tuesday that she and Kennedy were weighing their options and were considering joining forces with the Trump campaign.
“We are taking a very serious look at making sure that the people that have corrupted our fair and free democracy do not end up in office in November,” she said.
“There’s two options that we’re looking at, and one is staying in: forming [a new political party], but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Harris running mate Tim] Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump,” she said. “Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump, and we explain to our base why we are making this decision.”
Shanahan said the decision is a difficult one to make and said she and Kennedy want what’s best for the country.
Trump spoke with Kennedy by phone during the Republican National Convention last month, and a leaked recording of their call revealed Trump courting Kennedy’s support.
“I would love you to do something,” Trump said in the audio clip posted online. “I think it’ll be so good for you and so big for you, and we’re going to win.”
Kennedy’s campaign has been dubbed a “spoiler” by some pundits who worry his position in the race may draw support from one of the two major party candidates.
Since Harris replaced President Biden atop the party ticket two months ago, polls have suggested Kennedy’s presence in the race is doing more damage to Trump’s chances than to hers.
In the Decision Desk HQ/The Hill national polling average in a hypothetical three-way race, Harris now leads by 4.6 points, with 48.3 percent support compared to Trump’s 43.7 percent and Kennedy’s 2.8 percent.
In a two-way race, Harris now has a 3-point lead over Trump, 49.4 percent to 46.4 percent, according to the national polling average.
