Independent US presidential candidate RFK Jr to drop out of race, ABC News reports

Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to drop out of the race by the end of the week, ABC News reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

Kennedy’s campaign announced earlier in the day that he will make an address to the nation on Friday in Arizona, where he will talk about “the present historical moment and his path forward.”

An ABC News reporter said in a post on X he asked Kennedy if he would endorse Trump. “I will not confirm or deny that,” Kennedy said, according to the reporter. “We are not talking about any of that.”

Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said on Tuesday that he was considering ending his campaign to join forces with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is the Republican nominee for president.

Trump told CNN that he would “certainly be open” to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if the independent candidate drops out of the race and endorses him.

Kennedy, 70, the son of late Democratic politician Robert F. Kennedy, started his presidential campaign as a Democrat, challenging President Joe Biden for the nomination.

Kennedy’s support stood at 4% in an Ipsos poll taken this month.