WATCH: RFK Jr Considering Dropping Out Of Race And Backing Trump, Independent VP Candidate Nicole Shanahan Reveals

On Tuesday, during an appearance on the "Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu" podcast, Nicole Shanahan, the running mate of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., revealed that they are considering whether to stay in the race and try to form a viable third party that could run again in 2028 or drop out of the presidential election and support President Donald Trump in November. The remarks come after the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket has fallen considerably in the polls in recent weeks after President Joe Biden exited the race.

"What my gut tells me right now is that I have just got to keep being honest. I have to keep focusing on what matters the most outside of party lines. I need to focus on a vision that goes beyond November, and if that means we stay in... there's there are benefits to staying in. If we get over five percent of the vote, we actually establish ourselves as a party. Seventy-one percent of Americans want a strong third party with a real shot at winning. There are even public funds available if we get over five percent of the vote. I think it's 13.5 million to keep the party going. That's worth something. That means we can position for a real third-party election in 2028 where we don't have to go around and spend tens of millions of dollars on ballot access, which means we can spend all of that time and money on campaigning. 

"There are two options that we're looking at, and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and [Tim] Waltz 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're making this decision."

The 38-year-old independent vice presidential candidate added that she was far more comfortable with Trump and Vance leading the country than the Harris-Walz ticket. "If we are splitting hairs, I would say that I trust the future of this county more under the leadership of Trump and the [Peter] Thiels and the JD Vances than I do right now under Harris and the Reid Hoffmans," she said, referencing GOP donor Peter Thiel and Democrat mega-donor Reid Hoffman.

In response to the comments, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. made it clear that he is always open to discussing his goals with any political leader willing to listen. "As always, I am willing to talk with leaders of any political party to further the goals I have served for 40 years in my career and in this campaign," he wrote on X. "These are: reversing the chronic disease epidemic, ending the war machine, cleaning corporate influence out of government and toxic pollution out of the environment, protecting freedom of speech, and ending politicization of enforcement agencies."

WATCH:

JUST IN: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate Nicole Shanahan says the Kennedy campaign is considering dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump.

The comments came during a podcast appearance on Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory.

Shanahan said there are currently two options:

1.… pic.twitter.com/P3VwvuxKIq

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 20, 2024

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here.