Republican pundit Scott Jennings cautioned former President Donald Trump‘s campaign to “be a little careful” with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.‘s fresh endorsement.
Kennedy, who has run as an independent for much of the 2024 election, announced that he is suspending his campaign during a speech in Arizona Friday afternoon, claiming that his internal polling showed that remaining in the race would likely benefit Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
The environmental lawyer subsequently endorsed Trump, which the former president called a “great honor.” There is speculation that Trump could offer Kennedy a role in his administration in exchange for his support. Newsweek reached out to Trump’s campaign via email Friday evening for additional comment.
While polling has shown that Kennedy’s supporters are likely to lean toward Trump’s campaign with the independent out of the race, Jennings, former adviser to President George W. Bush, said that Kennedy’s reputation could “cost” Trump’s chances with some voters come November.
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“Look for whatever benefit you get … there could be some cost on the other side of the algebra,” Jennings said during an appearance on CNN‘s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
“I mean, I’m old enough to remember when RFK was a liberal conspiracy theorist,” Jennings continued. “Now he’s more of a conservative conspiracy theorist, but the through line is he’s a conspiracy theorist, and a lot of people think he’s kind of a loony tune.”
“So I would just caution the former president be a little careful here,” he added. “Don’t make any promises you can’t get out of.”
Kennedy, son of 1968 Democratic presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy, has gained attention in recent years for his skepticism toward the COVID-19 vaccinations. He also stirred controversy on several occasions while on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, Kennedy admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park in Manhattan 10 years earlier, saying that he and his friends who assisted thought the act was “amusing.”
Allegations also spread this summer that Kennedy had previously eaten a dog, which was first reported by Vanity Fair, although his campaign later dispelled the rumors. That same article included information on Kennedy being accused of sexually assaulting his former babysitter, a claim that Kennedy did not deny during a podcast appearance.
“I had a very, very rambunctious youth,” Kennedy told Breaking Points podcaster Saagar Enjeti. “I said in my announcement speech that I have so many skeletons in my closet that if they could all vote, I could run for king of the world.”
It’s unclear how Kennedy’s decision to suspend his campaign will impact an already tight race. The New York Times reported Friday that, according to its polling averages, Kennedy held about 5 percent of voters’ support nationally on the day he dropped out. His support earlier in the race was closer to double digits, but started to trail off once Harris launched her reelection campaign.
Kennedy’s impact could be felt most in tight battleground states, although the Times reported that its most recent survey with Siena College conducted in seven swing states found that if all of Kennedy’s supporters shifted toward Trump, the former president would gain 1 percentage point on average.
In comparison, Harris held a 2 percent lead over Trump on average across the seven states, with or without Kennedy’s inclusion in the poll.