Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered a speech at the Libertarian Party’s national convention in Washington, where he launched pointed attacks against former President Donald Trump. Kennedy, who had previously avoided directly criticizing Trump, accused the 45th president of allowing health regulators to mandate science-free social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also criticized Trump for not intervening on behalf of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, whom Kennedy described as heroes. Despite Trump’s attacks on Kennedy, the independent candidate expressed his willingness to debate the former president on the issues.
Kennedy’s speech included a promise to pardon Edward Snowden and drop all charges against Julian Assange on his first day in office. The audience at the convention responded with chants of “Free Assange!” Kennedy’s criticisms of Trump’s administration’s handling of civil liberties and failure to protect freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship resonated with the libertarian audience. Trump, who is also seeking to appeal to libertarian voters, is scheduled to address delegates at the convention, but his speech is expected to be disrupted by protesters calling for a one-on-one debate with Kennedy.
Despite the incumbent’s campaign setting terms that exclude third-party candidates from the upcoming head-to-head debates between Biden and Trump, the former president expressed his willingness to debate Kennedy, whom he described as a sharper and more intelligent version of Biden. Kennedy, for his part, taunted Trump during his speech, challenging him to have the courage to discuss the issues. Trump’s team responded with attacks on Kennedy, using a mobile billboard to drive around the Hilton where the convention was being held and displaying ads calling Kennedy a radical and highlighting his left-wing policy prescriptions.
The ongoing interactions between Kennedy and Trump highlight the competition for libertarian voters in the upcoming election. Kennedy’s willingness to challenge Trump on civil liberties and freedom of speech issues may appeal to libertarian voters who are looking for an alternative to the major party candidates. Trump’s attacks on Kennedy and attempts to discredit him as a radical signal his recognition of the threat posed by an independent candidate who could potentially siphon votes away from the GOP standard-bearer. The upcoming debates and the possibility of a one-on-one debate between Kennedy and Trump will likely continue to be a focus of the campaign as both candidates vie for the support of libertarian voters.
