The political rivals met just hours before Republicans formally named Donald J. Trump their presidential nominee, and as Mr. Kennedy was set to receive Secret Service protection in the wake of the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump.
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Despite early speculation, a spokeswoman for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign said he was not planning to drop out of the race.
The independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with former President Donald J. Trump on Monday in Milwaukee, a remarkable encounter in the hours before Mr. Trump officially became the Republican nominee.
The Kennedy campaign confirmed the meeting after early reports of the encounter stirred speculation that Mr. Kennedy was planning to drop out of the race and possibly endorse Mr. Trump.
“Yes, Mr. Kennedy met with President Trump today to discuss national unity, and he hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic Party as well,” said Stefanie Spear, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy campaign. “And no, he is not dropping out of the race.” She added, “He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, antiwar candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls.”
The meeting came less than two days after a failed assassination attempt on Mr. Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, an event that recalled the 1968 killing of Mr. Kennedy’s father, Robert F. Kennedy, when he was campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination.
And it comes as Mr. Kennedy is now set, after months of failed efforts, to receive Secret Service protection. On Monday, Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, said at a White House briefing, “In light of this weekend’s events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr.”
Earlier Monday, Mr. Trump had posted on Truth Social that Mr. Kennedy should receive protection.
Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.
Rebecca Davis O’Brien covers campaign finance and money in U.S. elections. She previously covered federal law enforcement, courts and criminal justice. More about Rebecca Davis O’Brien
See more on: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump, 2024 Elections, U.S. Politics
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Source: nytimes.com
