Former 2024 rival Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) are both eyeing potential positions in the White House if Donald Trump assumes office, a source familiar with the discussions told The Post.
Specifics about what roles they could fill have not been ironed out and any serious conversations would not take place until after the election, however, the pair have both indicated they could contribute to the Trump administration within their own fields of expertise, the source said.
Kennedy has expressed interest in a position that encompasses “areas of chronic disease,” while Gabbard has highlighted her experience with “foreign policy.”
The Trump campaign, meanwhile, revealed Tuesday that Kennedy and Gabbard are already contributing to the former president’s campaign by joining his White House transition team — where they will influence who would make up Trump’s team.
The addition of the two former Democrats to the campaign was timed to be a back-to-back announcement to highlight the broadening Trump coalition, the source said.
Kennedy and Gabbard were both part of the Democratic Party before becoming independents in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
“If we’re really going to do unity, then you really have to figure out ways of how you’re going to do unity,” the source said.
Both also previously ran for president, meaning the name recognition could provide a big boost to the Trump campaign.
“You would have them have some input in your administration, which is what we’re talking about now with the transition. And then step two you would see — if you win — that’s the appropriate time to see where they can be most effective,” the source said, adding that it won’t “necessarily” be a Cabinet position for Kennedy as has been speculated.
Trump’s campaign said the Republican nominee would decide who will fill his administration “when the time comes.”
“President Trump and his campaign are focused on victory in November to restore America’s greatness. When the time comes, President Trump will choose the best people to undo the damage Kamala Harris has done to this country and make America great again,” Trump adviser Brian Hughes told The Post.
Meanwhile, Kennedy and Gabbard are getting ready to hit the trail as surrogates for Trump in early September, the source revealed.
Kennedy, a member of one of the most famous Democratic families in American history, suspended his campaign on Friday and enthusiastically endorsed Trump.
He also said he would take his name off the ballot in critical battleground states that could hurt Trump — so he will likely be sent out to those swing states to target independent voters who are uncommitted or were previously thinking about voting for him, the source said.
Gabbard made her surprise endorsement of the former president on Monday at a National Guard Association event in Detroit, highlighting Trump’s foreign policy experience in his first term while speaking to the servicemembers as a veteran of the National Guard.
A spokesperson for Kennedy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post. A spokesperson for Gabbard also did not return a request for comment.
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