US Elections 2024: Did Trump’s team approach RFK Jr. about serving as running mate?

People close to Donald Trump told The Post that the Republican front-runner's team earlier expressed interest in Kennedy Jr, adding “it was all premature”.

Updated on: Jan 27, 2024, 22:26:40 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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Former US President Donald Trump reached out to ex-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Jr about the possibility of serving as his vice president, The New York Post reported.

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall. (AP)

People close to Trump told The Post that the Republican front-runner operatives earlier expressed interest in Kennedy Jr, adding “it was all premature”. The insider further said that it was "right out of the box" when Kennedy Jr announced his presidential bid last year in April.

“Anything’s possible. I wouldn’t write it off by any means,” the source added.

Kennedy Jr, 70, who was once a Democrat but is now an independent, dismissed rumors that he would ever accept a position as Trump's deputy and showed no interest in the position.

"I've heard the concept," Timothy Mellon, who has given Kennedy Jr's SuperPAC at least $5 million, told The Post that it is not surprising.

Also Read: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparks outrage with COVID-19 'ethnically targeted' to spare Jews claim

Can Kennedy Jr bring more people to the polls?

Another donor stated that the effort to select Kennedy Jr for the VP “is still alive” in Trump circles. “Bobby (nickname of Kennedy) can bring new people to the polls."

Kennedy Jr is the son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was killed during his presidential campaign in Los Angeles in 1968.

Following Trump's stunning victories in the Iowa and New Hampshire Republican primaries, there has been much conjecture about who he could choose as vice president.

Some of the names that have surfaced as potential running mate of Trump include New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Sen. Tim Scott (South Carolina) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).

Also Read: 'Never Nikki': Rand Paul goes all-out against Haley's 2024 presidential bid, but will he endorse Trump?

Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr?

Last year in October, anti-vaccine activist Kennedy Jr dropped his Democratic primary bid to announce that he will run for president as an independent.

Both Biden and Trump allies have questioned whether Kennedy may be a spoiler for their candidate.

Kennedy's anti-vaccine organisation, Children's Health Defence, is currently suing a number of news organisations, including The Associated Press, alleging antitrust violations by taking action to identify misinformation about COVID-19.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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