Would Trump Pick RFK Jr. as His VP? Probably Not, but He’s Intrigued by the Idea.

Would a merger between Mar-a-Lago and Camelot prove irresistible for American voters?

That is a question former President Donald J. Trump has weighed as he considers possible options for his running mate, repeatedly asking advisers and associates in recent weeks about the idea of selecting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his No. 2, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

Those close to Mr. Trump do not consider Mr. Kennedy a true contender for the position. Mr. Kennedy, a scion of Democratic royalty, is also already running against Mr. Trump and President Biden as an independent candidate, and he told The New York Times that he would not entertain joining the former president’s ticket.

“I’m flattered by the thought, but it’s not a course I would consider,” Mr. Kennedy said in a text message.

Instead, Mr. Trump’s queries about Mr. Kennedy suggest that the former president remains in the initial stages of his vice-presidential selection process.

Mr. Trump has asked associates about several potential running mates in recent weeks, and while no one knows whom Mr. Trump will choose, he has left some with the impression that he has not yet settled on his first-tier options.

The Trump campaign has begun the early stages of vetting potential contenders, but Mr. Trump does not need to settle on a choice until the Republican National Convention, scheduled to start on July 15 in Milwaukee.