The former US president was booed several times during his speech at the Libertarian Party’s national convention. Many people in the crowd shouted insults and criticized him for his COVID-19 policies, the colossal federal deficit and lies in politics.
When Donald Trump took the stage at the Washington Hilton in Washington, many people jeered at him, while some supporters dressed in “Make America Great” caps and T-shirts applauded and chanted “USA! USA!” It was a rare moment when Mr. Trump came face to face with his detractorswhich is very unusual for someone who is used to organizing rallies in front of always enthusiastic crowds.
Libertarians, who favor limited government and individual freedoms, are often skeptical of the former president, and his invitation to speak at the convention has divided the party. Mr. Trump tried to capitalize on this by referring to the four criminal charges against him and joking: “If I wasn’t a libertarian before, I’m definitely a libertarian now.”
Mr. Trump tried to praise “fierce champions of freedom present in this room” and called President Joe Biden a “tyrant” and “the worst president in American history,” prompting some audience members to shout, “It’s you”: “It’s YOU”.
As the insults continued, Trump eventually responded by saying “you don’t want to win” and suggesting that some libertarians wanted “continue to get their 3% every four years.”
Support for an alternative?
Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson won approximately 3% national votes in 2016, but candidate Jo Jorgensen only obtained a little more than 1% during the close 2020 election.
Libertarians will choose their candidate for the White House at their convention, which ends Sunday. Mr. Trump’s appearance also gave him an opportunity to court voters who might otherwise support the independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who gave his own speech at the Libertarian Convention on Friday.
Polls have shown for months that Most voters don’t want a 2020 rematch between Mr. Trump and President Joe Biden. This dynamic could potentially strengthen support for an alternative like the Libertarian candidate or Kennedy, whose candidacy worries the allies of Biden and Trump, who fear that he will be a spoilsport.
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