RFK Jr. officially withdraws from Arizona ballot - ahead of speech on his 'path forward' and rumored endorsement of Donald Trump

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially filed paperwork withdrawing his name from the presidential race in Arizona, the day before he is set to address his 'path forward.' 

In the clearest indication yet that Kennedy will end his longshot bid for the White House, a spokesman for the Arizona secretary of state said Thursday that the independent candidate has withdrawn from the state's presidential race. 

The move was made despite Kennedy earning almost three times the required number of signatures to appear on the Arizona ballot, however some have questioned their legitimacy as they were reportedly collected by a super PAC.  

Kennedy's campaign has not said he is dropping out, however it has announced a speech Friday in Arizona where he will speak on 'the present historical moment and his path forward.' 

Amid rumors that Kennedy will endorse Donald Trump, the former president's campaign said he will have a 'special guest' at a rally on Friday, which is also taking place in Arizona. 

Kennedy's expected withdrawal from the presidential race comes following a tumultuous period for his candidacy, which included a bizarre confession that he was responsible for a dead bear corpse found in Central Park in 2014. 

In recent weeks, Kennedy has reportedly been in talks with Trump's campaign, however sources told the New York Times this week that a decision over an endorsement has not been made. 

Kennedy's move to drop out in Arizona was not forced through a lack of support, however, as last Friday officials said he had submitted 118,000 signatures to qualify for the Arizona ballot. 

Aaron Thacker, a spokesman for the Arizona secretary of state's office, said election workers had 'spent the entire weekend working to verify (Kennedy's) signatures.' 

'He only needed about 42,000, and he got over 118,000,' Thacker added. 

The Times reported that if Kennedy's campaign had forged ahead with verifying his place on the ballot, these signatures could have proved problematic and opened him up to legal issues. 

Sources told the outlet that the signatures were collected by a super PAC supporting RFK Jr.'s candidacy, and not by his campaign itself. 

This may have violated federal campaign laws that limit coordination between campaigns and outside organizations, which could have triggered a wave of legal challenges. 

At a campaign stop in Arizona by the southern border on Thursday, Donald Trump said he was open to being endorsed by Kennedy, branding the possibility a 'great honor.' 

In a phone-in on Fox and Friends, Trump also gushed over Kennedy as he said he had 'known him for a long time.' 

'He’s, as you know, he’s a little different kind of a guy. Very smart guy. Very good person,' Trump said, adding that he would be 'very honored' by his endorsement. 

'He really has his heart in the right place. He is a respected person. Women love some of his policies, and I guess some people don’t like some of his policies.'