Donald Trump
Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump attempted to forge an alliance with the Libertarian Party, but the response from party members at their Washington convention suggested a rocky path ahead.
During his speech to around 1,500 Libertarians at a hotel ballroom in the capital, Trump was met with boos and jeers despite his promises to limit federal government power and his warnings that third-party votes could jeopardize efforts to defeat President Joe Biden. “Combine with us – you have to combine with us,” Trump implored, only to be met with strong objections from the audience.
As tensions rose, Trump taunted the Libertarians about their low voter turnout and suggested they could only achieve significant political goals by supporting him. “Only if you want to win,” he said, prompting loud boos from large portions of the crowd. “Maybe you don’t want to win.”
In the 2020 election, Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen secured only 1.2% of the vote against Trump and Biden. However, this small percentage could be crucial in tightly contested battleground states for the upcoming 2024 election, which is why Trump is seeking their support.
Typically known for his lengthy rallies, Trump concluded his speech at the Libertarian convention in just 35 minutes amid the crowd’s criticism. Some convention speakers urged respect towards Trump, but most were critical. Michael Rectenwald, a Libertarian presidential hopeful, stated, “We have a lot to teach Donald Trump. We don’t know if he has any capacity to learn.”
In his bid to win over third-party voters, Trump pledged to appoint a Libertarian Party member to his Cabinet and offer other high-ranking government positions to Libertarians. He also vowed to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, a site that facilitated drug sales—a cause that resonates with Libertarians who oppose drug criminalization.
Trump further promised to pardon those involved in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, though attendees noted his silence on pardoning Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, both significant figures in the Libertarian community.
Despite Trump’s efforts, Libertarians at the convention showed little inclination to endorse him, preferring to back their own nominee, who will be chosen on Sunday. Attendees, like Charlie Larkin from Massachusetts, expressed doubt about Trump’s commitment to Libertarian principles, noting his failure to address calls to abolish the Federal Reserve, foreign aid, and the income tax.
Criticism of Trump extended beyond his pledges, with delegates objecting to his positions on tariffs and his multiple indictments. Some were particularly offended by Trump’s suggestion that his indictments made him an honorary Libertarian, claiming political persecution.
Trump’s visit came just before a pivotal week in his hush money trial in New York, where final arguments are set for Tuesday. Despite his attempts to link his legal troubles to Libertarian critiques of government overreach, the convention crowd remained unconvinced.
The tension was evident even before Trump’s speech. On Friday night, a Libertarian delegate proposed a motion insulting Trump, which was cheered by the crowd but ultimately not allowed. Delegates also booed businessman Vivek Ramaswamy when he defended Trump.
Hours before Trump’s speech, his supporters took seats reserved for Libertarian delegates, prompting Angela McArdle, the Libertarian Party chair, to request they move and urging all to focus on common ground. Despite her call for camaraderie, there were dueling chants between Trump supporters and Libertarians.
The Libertarian Party emphasizes minimal government interference in personal, family, and business decisions. Vendors at the convention sold items promoting various Libertarian causes, including opposition to COVID vaccines, support for free trade, and eliminating the Federal Reserve. Many Libertarians criticized Trump’s policies, such as tariffs and increased spending, and his aggressive use of government power against opponents.
In his speech, Trump argued that their shared goal of defeating Biden should transcend their differences. “The fact is we should not be fighting each other,” he said.
Amanda Gibbs, a 40-year-old Libertarian from Houston, formerly a Republican, highlighted her departure from the GOP due to Trump’s “government overreach” and treatment of women. “He is what drove me out of the GOP,” she said. “That’s how I found the Libertarian Party.”
