Former President Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance at the Libertarian Party convention on May 25, where he asked for their endorsement for the presidency. During his speech, President Trump cited his non-interventionist approach to geopolitics, tax and regulation cuts, and reductions in the size of the federal government as evidence of his alignment with libertarian ideals. He also pledged to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, who has been imprisoned for over a decade for creating the dark net site Silk Road. This marks the first time in history that a former president has spoken to the Libertarian Party. While some attendees cheered him on, others expressed skepticism and openly booed the former president, reflecting the divided nature of the audience.
President Trump’s speech comes as the third major presidential contender, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has also addressed the convention. President Biden did not accept the invitation to speak at the event. During his speech, Mr. Kennedy criticized both President Trump and President Biden for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused them of failing to respect the U.S. Constitution. In turn, President Trump’s supporters have voiced skepticism about Mr. Kennedy’s commitment to libertarian principles.
