Former President Donald Trump has found an unexpected ally in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently ended his independent presidential campaign to throw his support behind Trump. This move has sparked speculation, particularly from Democratic strategist Paul Begala, who suggested on CNN that Trump might even consider swapping his current running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), for Kennedy.
Begala noted on Monday that while it’s unclear if such a swap is feasible, it wouldn’t be surprising given Trump’s apparent dissatisfaction with Vance. Vance has become one of the least popular running mates in recent history, which could prompt Trump to consider alternatives.
“So Paul, last time you were here with James [Carville] you predicted that Trump could [dump] J.D. Vance as his running mate,” said CNN anchor Erin Burnett. “Two days ago, Trump actually shared a post on social media and the post had a photo of him with Kennedy, and it was the words were, ‘We’re the strongest anti-establishment ticket in American history.’ And you are honing in on the word ‘ticket’ and not just saying that he could replace Vance, but to — he could replace him with Kennedy.”
“Watch your back, J.D.,” Begala bluntly warned. Begala went on to comment on Kennedy’s eccentricities, humorously noting, “Bobby Kennedy had a parasitic brain-eating worm in his head and the worm died of starvation, okay. So I just think that we ought to give him like a lot of leeway because I think he’s a bit eccentric.”
Despite Kennedy’s quirks, Begala expressed skepticism about his potential value to Trump’s campaign, pointing out that both Trump and Kennedy already appeal to a similar base of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists. “I don’t think he adds much to Trump, honestly,” Begala said. He also observed that Kennedy’s initial surge in support had dwindled significantly. “Bobby Kennedy started this race about 20 percent. He’s about 2 now. So on the current trajectory, by Election Day, he’ll be about negative six. He’s a diminishing asset, but I think Trump really likes him.”
Begala also took a jab at Vance, suggesting that he has faded into obscurity: “J.D. Vance has really not — I think he’s on milk cartons now. We just don’t see him.” As the political landscape continues to evolve, the possibility of Trump making a dramatic change to his ticket adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming election. Whether or not such a swap happens, the speculation alone underscores the unpredictable nature of Trump’s campaign strategy.