Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s evolving relationship with former President Donald Trump has recently garnered renewed scrutiny, particularly following the emergence of a video capturing a conversation between the two. The video, subsequently deleted by Kennedy's son, features Trump discussing children's vaccines and recounting a gunshot wound he sustained at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump described the sound of the gunfire as resembling "the world’s largest mosquito," providing a dramatic account of the event.

In their conversation, Trump appeared to align with Kennedy’s skepticism regarding the vaccine system. Trump remarked, "I agree with you, man, something’s wrong with that whole system," expressing concerns about vaccine dosage and its effects on children. He further stated, “And then you see the baby all of a sudden starting to change radically. I’ve seen it too many times, and then you hear it doesn’t have an impact, right?”

Trump also hinted at potential collaboration with Kennedy, although the details of any such arrangement remain unclear. In 2017, Kennedy had claimed that Trump had extended an invitation for him to chair a committee on "vaccine safety and scientific integrity." However, this offer was subsequently retracted by the Trump administration.

In the video, Trump suggested, “I would love you to do some — I think it would be so good for you and so big for you,” without specifying the nature of the proposed involvement. Neither Kennedy nor his campaign responded to requests for comment on the matter. Trump's campaign, when approached for comment, directed inquiries to Kennedy’s social media post apologizing for his son Bobby Kennedy III’s release of the video.

The timing of this conversation is significant, given the current turbulence in the 2024 presidential race. Kennedy and Trump, who share some major donors and overlapping support, met in person on Monday in Milwaukee, the venue for the Republican National Convention. Despite efforts to engage with Democratic leaders, Kennedy has no intention of withdrawing from the race, according to his press secretary, Stefanie Spear. Kennedy continues to seek ballot access in every state and aims to secure a position on the debate stage scheduled for September.

Kennedy's campaign had planned several events in Wisconsin this week, but these were canceled due to "unforeseen circumstances," with no further details provided.

Democrats assert that the video reinforces their claim that Kennedy's candidacy benefits Trump and illustrates an open coordination between the two. "He’s a spoiler for Trump," stated Lis Smith, who leads anti-third party efforts for the Democratic National Committee.

The latest NBC News poll reflects Kennedy's complex and shifting role in the 2024 election. When Kennedy is included as a choice on the ballot, some voters who initially supported Trump shift their preference towards Kennedy. Although Kennedy's favorability has declined since the previous NBC News survey in April, with 23% of registered voters viewing him positively and 35% negatively, he maintains a positive rating among self-identified Republicans, with 33% viewing him favorably and 22% unfavorably.

Kennedy and Trump's relationship has been marked by fluctuations over the years. An initial meeting during Trump's presidential transition yielded no substantive results. Trump had previously supported Kennedy during his Democratic nomination bid but became critical when Kennedy transitioned to an independent candidate for the general election.

In March, Kennedy claimed in an interview with Telemundo that members of the Trump campaign had discussed the possibility of him being considered as a running mate. Chris LaCavita, a senior adviser for the Trump campaign, rejected this claim on social media, characterizing Kennedy as a “leftie loonie” unfit for the ticket.

Despite occasional hostility, Trump has shown a degree of openness towards Kennedy. In June, Trump indicated he would have "no problem" with Kennedy participating in that month's CNN debate, though Kennedy did not ultimately qualify.

The alignment between Trump and Kennedy on vaccine skepticism has been a notable aspect of their interaction. Trump’s skepticism about childhood vaccinations dates back to 2014, when he tweeted against the practice of administering vaccines in large doses, erroneously suggesting that it causes autism. This claim has been extensively debunked, with the 1998 study linking vaccines to autism being retracted and its author, Andrew Wakefield, having his medical license revoked. Trump also met with Wakefield in 2016.

Before his presidential campaign, Kennedy was a leading anti-vaccine advocate as chairman and chief litigation counsel for Children’s Health Defense, the largest anti-vaccine organization in the country. Kennedy announced his departure from the organization in April 2023 to focus on his presidential campaign. Although he has adopted a more measured public stance on vaccines since then, his campaign continues to include individuals with anti-vaccine views.

In managing his own campaign, Trump has had to balance acknowledging the lifesaving impact of Covid vaccines with addressing the skepticism of his conservative base. In May, Trump criticized Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance, suggesting that Kennedy's position was merely a political maneuver rather than a genuine belief.