WaPo has a story about negotiations between Trump and RFK Jr over a potential position “overseeing a portfolio of health and medical issues” in a hypothetical second Trump term. It follows the release of a video on July 16 recording a call between the two men.
The possibility of an RFK Jr role in a Trump Administration is not new. As the NBC report on the recording described, such an idea was floated and (like this one) dismissed during the 2016 transition.
I want to look closely at this report, though, for what it might say about (what I assume is) a giant ratfuck otherwise intended to help Trump win.
The two stories and public developments describe these events:
- July 13: RFK Jr publicly comments about the Trump shooting, including on Hannity, and describes sending a note to Trump
- Later on July 13: “a person who knows both men reached out to Kennedy on Saturday night” and RFK Jr says he’d be willing to speak to Trump
- Still later on July 13: Tucker Carlson sends RFK Jr a group text with a phone number used by Trump
- Still on July 13: RFK Jr and Trump speak by phone
- July 14: Video reportedly recorded
- July 15: RFK Jr and Trump meet in Milwaukee
- July 15 or 16: RFK Jr departs Milwaukee for unforeseen reasons
- July 16: NBC publishes the video, which was posted by RFK III; RFK Jr claims its release was unintentional
- July 21: After Biden drops out, RFK Jr makes a bid to get involved in his replacement, but also accuses Trump of secretly representing corporate interests
- July 22: RFK Jr interviews with WaPo, revealing the discussions
It all reads like RFK Jr tried to make a demand on July 15, Trump refused, and everything since has been RFK Jr trying to damage Trump for that refusal (possibly, with today’s story, as an attempt by Trump allies to do damage control).
It comes amid recent polling that show RFK Jr draws more away from Trump than he does (or did) from Biden. That is, if this is part of a larger ratfuck to fund third party candidates to draw away from a Democratic nominee, it may be backfiring, having the opposite effect.
A nomination-plus-position would have ended that risk. But thus far at least, it failed.