Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democratic presidential candidate who endorsed Trump, believes the former president has changed and will approach a second term differently.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democratic presidential candidate who endorsed Trump, believes the former president has "changed" as a person compared to his first administration.
Kennedy made the observation while appearing as a guest on an episode of the "All-In Podcast" on Friday.
RFK Jr. Predicts a Different President Trump in Second Term
"If President Trump wins […] people are going to see a very different President Trump than they did in the first term," Kennedy told the hosts about the former president. "I think he’s changed as a person, and I’ve known him for, you know, 30 years."
Kennedy, who began the 2024 cycle running for president as a Democrat, then shifted to run as an Independent, suspended his campaign last week and endorsed Trump — a historic move for a member of the Democrat Kennedy family dynasty.
RFK Jr. Predicts a Different President Trump in Second Term
Trump also appointed Kennedy to his transition team alongside fellow former Democratic lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard — a move to broaden his campaign's coalition and appeal to non-GOP voters.
During the podcast interview this week, Kennedy was also asked if he ever sought or was offered the position of vice-president.
RFK Jr. Predicts a Different President Trump in Second Term
The independent candidate said he never had any interest in the number two slot, joking that it was the "worst job in Washington" for someone like him.
"I had no interest in being vice president, I grew up in politics — vice president is the worst job in Washington. You have no budget, you have no staff. Your budget actually all comes from the White House. So if you do something that offends the president, he can take away your plane, he can take away your staff," Kennedy told the podcast hosts.
RFK Jr. Predicts a Different President Trump in Second Term
"And the only thing you really have is the Naval Observatory, which is the official residence of the vice president. He can essentially put you on house arrest," the independent candidate continued. "And I have very strong views on issues and I felt like if I took that job I'd be on house arrest."
Kennedy, who has been a vocal critic of vaccines and other public health measures, also discussed his views on the COVID-19 pandemic during the podcast interview. He said he believes the pandemic was "overhyped" and that the government's response was "disastrous."
"The government's response to COVID was a disaster," Kennedy said. "They shut down the economy, they destroyed millions of jobs, they put people in their homes, they isolated them, they made them afraid of each other. It was a disaster."
Kennedy's comments come as Trump continues to tease a possible run for president in 2024. The former president has not yet officially announced his candidacy, but he has held several rallies and events in recent months.
If Trump does decide to run again, he will likely face a crowded field of Republican challengers. Several other potential candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, have already begun to campaign for the nomination.
