Report: RFK Jr. could lose major donors if he picks Aaron Rodgers as running mate

Aaron Rodgers is featuring heavily in headlines due to the possibility of him becoming Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate on an independent presidential ticket.

That possibility reportedly has some of Kennedy’s major donors spooked, according to a report from Diana Falzone of Mediaite. It seems like donors are also unhappy that Jesse Ventura is another candidate.

“Several donors have expressed concern about Kennedy picking either the NFL quarterback — a celebrity football player with controversial opinions and no political experience — or the former Minnesota governor, sources close to the campaign told Mediaite,” wrote Falzone.

“In fact, a number of donors have voiced their discontent directly with the campaign, pledging to withdraw their support from Kennedy if he chooses Rodgers in particular.”

Falzone’s report comes in the wake of a different report involving Rodgers in which he was accused of sharing conspiracy theories about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting.

Pamela Brown and Jake Tapper of CNN offered some details.

“Brown was covering the Kentucky Derby for CNN in 2013 when she was introduced to Rodgers, then with the Green Bay Packers, at a post-Derby party,” Brown and Tapper wrote. “Hearing that she was a journalist with CNN, Rodgers immediately began attacking the news media for covering up important stories. Rodgers brought up the tragic killing of 20 children and 6 adults by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School, claiming it was actually a government inside job and the media was intentionally ignoring it.”

Rodgers is alleged to have told an unidentified person that “Sandy Hook never happened” and that “all those children never existed.” He reportedly also said that the children and grieving parents were “all actors.”

The New York Jets quarterback responded to the allegations on Thursday with a social media post.

“As I’m on the record saying in the past, what happened in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy,” Rodgers wrote on X. “I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not take place. Again, I hope that we learn from this and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life. My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with the families affected along with the entire Sandy Hook community.”

Moving back to Falzone’s report, one source said donors believe it’s “telling that no credible person wants to be VP” and also mentioned that donors see Kennedy’s selection as an “acknowledgement of the credibility of his campaign or lack thereof.”

“Both of them are unqualified for the second highest position in the United States — Vice President,” the source said of Rodgers and Ventura. “Choosing either of them would mean that Bobby is not a serious candidate.”

One has to imagine if Rodgers would be able to handle being vice president of the United States while playing in the NFL at the same time.

It’s pretty wild to imagine him handling both jobs at the same time. He’s coming off a 2023 season in which he only appeared in one game for the Jets before suffering an Achilles injury, which knocked him out for the rest of the season.

Expectations were high for the Jets last season before that injury. Those expectations will likely be high once again in the 2024 season, though there’s a lot of time left before training camps open around the league.

New York’s roster could look very different in a few months, as the league continues to sees roster changes with free agency opening up recently.

Only time will tell what becomes of Rodgers’ future in football and politics.