Former President Trump met with Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Monday morning, ahead of the Republican National Convention.
Kennedy confirmed the meeting in a statement Monday afternoon, but he cast doubt on Politico’s reporting that the primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss a potential endorsement for Trump.
“Lots of rumors going around about my meeting this morning with President Trump,” Kennedy wrote on social platform X. “Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well.”
“No, I am not dropping out of the race,” Kennedy continued.
The Hill has reached out to Trump’s campaign for a response.
An endorsement from Kennedy could give either candidate the modest boost it needs to make a difference in the exceptionally close race.
In The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s national average, Kennedy polls at 8 percent support, behind Trump’s 42 percent and Biden’s 40 percent.
President Biden, earlier Monday, directed Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to work with the U.S. Secret Service to provide protection for Kennedy — a privilege the Independent candidate has long sought. Kennedy thanked Biden in a statement for granting the request.
The announcement follows the assassination attempt on Trump, which shocked the country over the weekend and renewed calls for Kennedy to get Secret Service protection — a request for which Kennedy said he was denied last year.
Earlier in the day, Trump had joined the calls for Kennedy to get the Secret Service protection.
“In light of what is going on in the world today, I believe it is imperative that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. receive Secret Service protection — immediately,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.
“Given the history of the Kennedy Family, this is the obvious right thing to do!” he added.
At the convention on Monday, Trump was formally named the Republican Party’s 2024 nominee for president.