OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former Democratic congresswoman-turned-independent Tulsi Gabbard says she has turned down an offer by presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his running mate.
“I met with Kennedy several times, and we have become good friends,” Gabbard, a former lawmaker from Hawaii, said in a statement on Tuesday, according to Newsmax. “He asked if I would be his running mate. After careful consideration, I respectfully declined.”
Axios added that both RFK Jr. and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, have considered Gabbard as a running mate.
To that end, Gabbard said last month she would “be open” to considering Trump’s offer, adding that her “mission is to serve our country.”
Tulsi Gabbard rejected RFK Jr.’s VP ask before he chose Nicole Shanahanhttps://t.co/o3fxTGrQOghttps://t.co/o3fxTGrQOg
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 3, 2024
Kennedy revealed his choice for vice president late last month, and it has Republicans fired up.
RFK Jr. announced this week that he has chosen Nicole Shanahan, a 38-year-old lawyer and businesswoman, to serve as his 2024 running mate.
RFK Jr. announced that he has chosen Nicole Shanahan, a far-left 38-year-old lawyer and businesswoman, to serve as his 2024 running mate.
“RFK Jr. is the most Radical Left Candidate in the race, by far. He’s a big fan of the Green New Scam, and other economy-killing disasters,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform after the announcement. “I guess this would mean he is going to be taking votes from Crooked Joe Biden, which would be a great service to America.”
Trump continued: “His running mate, Nicole Shanahan, is even more ‘Liberal’ than him, if that’s possible. Kennedy is a Radical Left Democrat, and always will be!!! It’s great for MAGA, but the Communists will make it very hard for him to get on the Ballot. Expect him, and her, to be indicted any day now, probably for Environmental Fraud!”
“He is Crooked Joe Biden’s Political Opponent, not mine,” Trump added. “I love that he is running!”
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk shared the news on X, saying, “RFK’s VP choice, Nicole Shanahan, is a six-figure donor to… George Gascon, the pro-crime, Soros-backed prosecutor who helped wreck San Francisco and is currently wrecking LA. She also spent big on Measure J, a Los Angeles measure to reroute spending from law enforcement and prisons to “social services” and “mental health treatment” — in other words, not putting criminals and dangerous psychos behind bars.”
“This is a far-left pick by RFK, who is apparently looking to shore up his progressive bona fides. Major red flag for commonsense independents and centrist voters who are also sick of rising crime but intrigued by his campaign.”
RFK’s VP choice, Nicole Shanahan, is a six-figure donor to… George Gascon, the pro-crime, Soros-backed prosecutor who helped wreck San Francisco and is currently wrecking LA. She also spent big on Measure J, a Los Angeles measure to reroute spending from law enforcement and… pic.twitter.com/ei3p1sggA0
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 26, 2024
Dinesh D’Souza reacted to the news, saying, “RFK Jr’s selection of Nicole Shanahan as his VP is a very positive development, in my opinion. It makes it far more likely RFK Jr will now take votes away from Biden than he will from Trump. Had RFK Jr made a more conservative choice, he might have taken votes away from Trump.”
RFK Jr’s selection of Nicole Shanahan as his VP is a very positive development, in my opinion. It makes it far more likely RFK Jr will now take votes away from Biden than he will from Trump. Had RFK Jr made a more conservative choice, he might have taken votes away from Trump
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) March 26, 2024
Fox News host Jesse Watters suspects Kennedy needed Shanahan’s financial support to get on the ballots as an independent.
“And one of the reasons he tapped Shanahan is because she has deep pockets, who can self-fund and help get him access. A lot of people that I know, who like RFK, weren’t thrilled with the choice. They were expecting someone a little bit more electrifying to kind of jolt that ticket and continue the momentum. There is a lot we don’t know about her,” Watters said.
Watters added: “But she has a lot of money, and you need a lot of money if you’re running a third party.”
