In a surprising turn of events, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was reportedly asked to consider joining Donald Trump's presidential ticket mere hours after an assassination attempt on the former president.
According to The Guardian, this proposal came as part of a "national unity" effort following the failed attack on Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The intermediary who approached Kennedy was Calley Means, an entrepreneur who occasionally advised Kennedy on chronic diseases. While Kennedy initially rejected the suggestion, he later expressed willingness to speak with Trump. This revelation sheds light on the complex political maneuverings and alliances forming in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
The timing of the proposal was particularly significant, coming just after Trump had survived an assassination attempt. The intermediary's approach seemed to be based on the assumption that Kennedy, whose father and uncle were both assassinated, would empathize with Trump's experience.
At the time of this proposal, it was unclear whether Trump was seriously considering Kennedy as a potential running mate. However, the revelation suggests that there were behind-the-scenes discussions about potential alliances that could reshape the political landscape.
It's worth noting that just days after this proposal, Trump announced JD Vance as his vice-presidential nominee at the Republican national convention in Milwaukee. This indicates that even if there were considerations about Kennedy, they did not ultimately materialize into a formal offer.
Interestingly, the article reveals that Trump had previously contemplated the idea of Kennedy as a running mate. As recently as April, despite publicly criticizing Kennedy as a "radical left Democrat," Trump apparently liked the idea of a "Trump-Kennedy" ticket.
The Trump campaign even conducted internal polling to gauge the potential electability of such a pairing. This suggests that the idea of joining forces with Kennedy was not entirely new or spontaneous but had been a point of consideration for some time.
On Kennedy's side, some advisers had also floated the possibility of him being Trump's running mate. An email from Link Lauren, a communication strategist in Kennedy's campaign, highlighted the potential impact of such a ticket on pharmaceutical companies and media conglomerates.
Following the initial proposal, a series of communications and meetings took place between Kennedy and Trump's camp. These included a phone conversation facilitated by Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News presenter and Trump supporter.
This led to direct communication between Trump and Kennedy, including a recorded phone conversation that was partially leaked by Kennedy's son during the Republican convention. The two also had subsequent meetings, including one at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
These interactions culminated in Kennedy's announcement on August 23 that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump. Furthermore, Trump has since appointed Kennedy to his transition team, sparking speculation about a potential role for Kennedy in a future Trump administration.
The revelation of Trump's team approaching Kennedy for a potential vice-presidential role shortly after an assassination attempt highlights the complex and often unexpected alliances in American politics. While the proposal did not materialize, it led to a series of interactions culminating in Kennedy's endorsement of Trump. The political implications of this alliance continue to unfold as the 2024 election approaches, with potential impacts on voter dynamics in key battleground states.
