The independent candidate is scheduled to give a speech on the “way forward” in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is planning to drop his bid to become the next president of the United States and endorse Republican Party candidate Donald Trump, US media reported.
Kennedy, the third son of liberal icon Robert F. Kennedy, is considering announcing the end of his campaign during an appearance with Trump in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, multiple news outlets reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The reports from The New York Times, CNN, ABC News and NBC News come after Kennedy's campaign announced Wednesday that he would give a speech in Phoenix on “the current historic moment and his path forward.”
Kennedy, who initially ran for the Democratic Party nomination before becoming an independent, could boost Trump's chances in the November election if he drops out, especially in battleground states that were won by razor-thin margins in 2016 and 2020.
Opinion polls have consistently shown Kennedy, an environmental advocate and longtime vaccine skeptic, getting more support from Trump than the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
In an NBC News poll in July, 33 percent of registered Republican voters expressed a positive view of Kennedy's heir, compared with just 15 percent of registered Democrats and independents.
While Kennedy never appeared poised to challenge Harris or Trump for the White House, his campaign drew double-digit support in polls at its peak before falling to around 5 percent in recent weeks.
In an interview on the Impact Theory podcast earlier this week, Kennedy's running mate Nicole Shanahan said she was considering dropping out of the race as staying in it would “jeopardize” a Harris victory.
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Trump said he would be open to naming Kennedy for a Cabinet position if elected.
“I like him and I respect him,” Trump said. “He’s a brilliant guy. He’s a very intelligent guy. I’ve known him for a long time.”
