RFK Jr. Shakes Up 2024 Race: Withdraws from Arizona Ballot, May Endorse Trump Today

RFK Jr. has reportedly withdrawn his name from the presidential ballot in Arizona, raising speculation that he may endorse former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

The Independent candidate, who has faced declining poll numbers, took this step as rumors swirl about his future in the race.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes announced the withdrawal on social media platform X, stating, “RFK Jr.’s campaign filed official paperwork with our office today withdrawing him from AZ’s 2024 election.”

Fontes added that the official filing would be made available on the Arizona government website on Friday.

Timing of Withdrawal Sparks Rumors

RFK Jr.’s decision comes on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, during which Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the keynote address.

This timing has fueled speculation that Kennedy might drop out of the race entirely and lend his support to Trump, the Republican nominee.

RFK Jr. previously indicated that he would address the country on Friday, August 23, with an update on his political future.

His press secretary, Stefanie Spear, posted on social media, promising an announcement about “the present historic moment and his path forward.”

Running Mate Hints at Trump Endorsement

Adding to the intrigue, RFK Jr.’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, publicly criticized the Democratic Party earlier this week.

Shanahan expressed her “full support” for Kennedy’s potential role in a future Trump administration and hinted that their campaign might align with the former president.

Coincidentally, Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Arizona on Friday, just 20 minutes from Phoenix, in Glendale.

Whether Kennedy will make an appearance remains unclear, but sources close to the situation suggest a decision is imminent.

Trump Weighs In on RFK Jr.

In an interview with Grady Trimble from Fox Business Network on Wednesday, Trump was asked if he had spoken with RFK Jr. about a potential withdrawal.

Trump responded, “I haven’t, but I respect him. I’ve respected him for a long time. I mean, I know where he’s coming from and it’s a little different philosophy. Very smart guy, however. And I had heard he was thinking about it for a period of time, but no, I have not heard this.”

When pressed about whether he would welcome Kennedy on stage during his Arizona event, Trump said, “I would always be honored to. I mean, if he endorsed me, would I be honored by that? Absolutely.”

On Thursday, in an another interview with Fox when asked about RFK Jr. dropping from the race and endorsing him, Trump said, “He is a very good person. If he endorsed me, I would be honored by it. I would be very honored by it. He really has his heart in the right place. He is a respected person,” Trump said.

“But, overall, I thought the Democrats, he was a Democrat, I don’t know what he is right now. But he was a Democrat. They treated him very badly. I think he would have, he goes around saying he would have beaten [President] Biden in the primary. I think there was a good chance,” Trump added.

Kennedy’s Polling Struggles

Once a strong contender, RFK Jr.’s polling numbers have taken a significant hit in recent months.

While Trump and Vice President Harris are tied at 45% in the latest Fox News national poll, Kennedy’s support has dwindled to just 6%.

Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, commented on the possibility of Kennedy joining forces with the Trump campaign during an interview on Fox News.

“I think it would be good for the campaign,” Vance said. “I’ve never talked to RFK about this, but my pitch to him and to a lot of his voters would be the Democratic Party of my grandparents that supported his uncle, John F. Kennedy, for president has been completely abandoned by the modern leadership of the Democratic Party.”

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