Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to end his presidential campaign by the end of this week, according to reports. Sources familiar with the matter have indicated that Kennedy will formally withdraw from the race on Friday. This follows an announcement on his campaign website about a planned statement on the same day, which will be live-streamed on social media platforms from Phoenix.

Speculation about Kennedy’s departure intensified after his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, mentioned on a podcast that he was considering dropping out and possibly endorsing Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Shanahan suggested that Kennedy’s continued candidacy could inadvertently assist in electing Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, by splitting the vote.

Trump, who had previously criticized Kennedy as a “Democrat plant” and a “radical left liberal,” has now expressed openness to Kennedy’s support. “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. Notably, Trump is scheduled to speak in the Phoenix area on Friday as well, coinciding with Kennedy’s anticipated announcement.

The two men appear to have been in contact for weeks, including a leaked phone call from last month where Trump solicited Kennedy’s support and discussed the possibility of him joining a future administration. Trump also seemed to endorse some of Kennedy’s anti-vaccine views during the call.

JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, confirmed ongoing communication between the Kennedy and Trump campaigns. “Our argument to RFK, and I’ll make it right now, because, of course, he hasn’t dropped out yet, is, look: if you want a Democratic party that protected American workers and stood for strong borders, maybe disagreed with Republicans on things like tax policy, that party doesn’t exist anymore,” Vance said.

Kennedy had initially sought the Democratic nomination before launching an independent campaign. His bid has been marred by controversies, including allegations of misconduct and a financial struggle. Reports revealed that Kennedy’s campaign ended July $3.5 million in debt, and Shanahan recently received a $1 million refund from the campaign.

Despite these issues, Harris’s campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, expressed confidence in her candidate’s prospects. “We are very confident that the vice-president is going to win whether she’s running against one candidate or multiple candidates,” Dillon stated, dismissing concerns about the potential impact of Kennedy’s withdrawal and endorsement of Trump on the race.