WASHINGTON - Minutes before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the nation’s HHS Secretary last year, President Donald Trump acknowledged the role his one-time challenger had played in getting him elected.
“He was a very tough competitor. I did not like it at all. I said, let's get him on my side,” Trump said.
In April 2023, RFK Jr. launched a long-shot Democratic primary challenge against then-President Joe Biden. Six months later, he was running for the White House as an independent before ultimately abandoning his campaign to endorse Trump, the Republican nominee.
“Bobby brought together a coalition of supporters across party lines," Trump continued during Kennedy's swearing-in ceremony. "And I think a lot of that support came my way when we decided to do the merger."
More than a year into their working relationship, that merger is showing signs of unraveling as the midterm elections approach.
