Ron Johnson says Trump, Kennedy joining forces would be 'fabulous'
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said in a Wednesday interview it would be “fabulous” if former President Trump and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined forces to win a hypothetical second term in office for Trump.
Johnson specifically cheered the prospect of Kennedy dropping out of the race to endorse Trump, and, in turn, getting tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a hypothetical second Trump term.
“I think it’s fabulous news, if it is true, if this actually comes about, where Bobby Kennedy endorses Trump, and Trump tells him that he’ll be HHS secretary. I think that’d be fabulous news,” Johnson said in a radio interview on “Cats & Cosby” with hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby.
Johnson said Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, would be able to “clean house” at government health agencies and work with Trump toward the goal of “draining the swamp.”
“We have such an enormous problem in America based on chronic illness. Bobby Kennedy has been talking about that for years, and we need to completely clean house within the HHS, within the [Food and Drug Administration], within the [National Institutes of Health], within the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], and I can’t think of a better person to do it than Bobby Kennedy,” Johnson said, while noting “President Trump is going to have his hands full.”
“And I can’t think of a better duo in terms of draining the swamp: Bobby Kennedy at HHS … and President Trump being in there and draining the rest of the swamp,” Johnson added.
Johnson’s interview comes amid speculation that Kennedy might soon end his campaign and back Trump. Kennedy on Wednesday announced he would address “the present historical moment and his path forward” in a speech this coming Friday.
Kennedy campaign insiders convened by phone Wednesday to discuss campaign developments, The Hill reported. ABC News reported that Kennedy could end his campaign by the end of the week and that he is considering endorsing Trump, but that no decision had been made yet.
Trump said earlier this week he is open to giving Kennedy a role in his administration.
“I didn’t know he was thinking about getting out, but if he is thinking about getting out, certainly I’d be open to it,” Trump said Tuesday in a CNN interview.
“I respect him,” he added.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said in a podcast released Tuesday that she and Kennedy were weighing their options and were considering joining forces with the Trump campaign.
“We are taking a very serious look at making sure that the people that have corrupted our fair and free democracy do not end up in office in November,” she said.
“There’s two options that we’re looking at, and one is staying in: forming [a new political party], but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Harris running mate Tim] Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump,” she said. “Or we walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump, and we explain to our base why we are making this decision.”