At the Libertarian National Convention on Saturday night, Presidential candidate Donald Trump faced a hostile audience, a stark contrast to the adulation he usually receives at his rallies.
The Libertarian audience, who prioritize limited government and individual freedom, expressed their displeasure with Trump for his role in rushing the COVID-19 vaccine and his lack of action against public health restrictions during the pandemic.
When Trump took the stage in Washington, he was met with loud boos and jeers, although a smaller group of his supporters cheered him.
Before his appearance, one Libertarian Party member shouted, “Donald Trump should have taken a bullet!” Trump’s campaign did not comment on the hostile reception.
Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, immediately addressed the 88 felony charges he faces in four federal and state prosecutions.
“If I wasn’t a libertarian I am now,” he declared, criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration and the Democrats for contributing to what he termed a “rise in left-wing fascism.”
Attempting to appeal to the Libertarians, Trump emphasized common ground with Republican policies on taxes and government size, crucial in the tightly contested upcoming election.
“We should not be fighting each other,” he said, urging Libertarians to join him in defeating Biden, though his appeal was largely met with boos. Despite this, the audience generally opposed Biden’s administration.
Libertarians, who secured only 1.2% of the national vote in 2020, could significantly impact the upcoming election, where a few thousand votes in battleground states might decide the outcome.
This has prompted Trump to seek their support.
Trump’s presence at the Libertarian event also highlighted his concern about third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time opponent of vaccines and mandates who spoke at the convention the previous day.
Trump has recently intensified his criticism of Kennedy, calling him a “fake” anti-vaccination proponent.
Polls indicate Kennedy could draw votes from both Trump and Biden, though it’s unclear who would be more affected.
Libertarian Party organizers mentioned that Biden was invited to speak but declined.
Trump concluded his speech by asserting, “The Libertarian Party can make a big difference.
“If we unite we will be unstoppable,” drawing a mix of applause and jeers.
Despite the mixed reception, Trump promised to include a Libertarian in his cabinet if elected, a pledge met with skepticism.
However, he received enthusiastic applause for vowing to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder, whose imprisonment Libertarians view as government overreach.