Former President Donald Trump gave a speech at the Libertarian National Convention at the Washington Hilton in Washington, but the crowd’s response was less than enthusiastic. Boos were heard from the audience after Trump asked to be nominated and for Libertarian votes. People present at the event reported audible boos throughout the speech.
Trump is making efforts to appeal to various voting blocs beyond his base, in hopes of securing votes against President Joe Biden or a third-party candidate. His appearance at the convention was significant, as it marked the first time a major U.S. political party’s presumptive nominee addressed the event.
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Libertarians advocate for small government and advocate for reducing or eliminating taxes whenever possible.
Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian National Committee, defended the decision to invite Trump to speak, stating that it was intended to bring more attention to the Libertarian party and increase their chances of being included in the presidential debates. She mentioned that Trump addressed specific concerns of the Libertarian party during his speech.
“For the first time in history, a major party’s presidential candidate has shown interest in speaking at our national convention. This demonstrates the growing recognition of our power as a voting bloc,” McArdle stated.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also spoke at the convention, addressing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and constitutional violations during lockdowns.
The candidates’ presence at the convention was motivated by a Gallup survey which revealed that 45% of Americans identify as politically independent, surpassing both Republicans and Democrats.
