Former President Donald Trump will not be among the potential candidates for the Libertarian presidential nomination after he failed to submit the necessary paperwork to qualify. This news comes after Trump was met with boos and heckling during a speech at the party’s national convention. The Libertarian National Convention is expected to choose a party nominee from a list of eligible candidates, which will not include Trump, according to party chair Angela McArdle.
One of the potential nominees for the Libertarian presidential nomination is independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called for an “alliance” between all third-party voters looking to prevent Trump or Biden from becoming president. Both RFK Jr. and Trump spoke at the Libertarian National Convention, with Trump facing backlash from the crowd who called him names like a “liar,” “panderer,” and “wannabe dictator.” Trump had urged Libertarians to vote for the Trump ticket to keep Biden out of office.
During his speech at the convention, Trump made promises such as nominating a Libertarian to a cabinet position, cutting taxes, and defending gun rights. He also criticized the party for its poor voting record, suggesting that they “keep getting your 3% every four years.” Other Libertarian presidential candidates, including Chase Oliver and Michael Rectenwald, spoke against Trump receiving the party’s nomination, with Oliver calling him a “war criminal” and Rectenwald stating that Libertarians were not at risk for falling for Trump’s rhetoric.
The Libertarian vote is considered crucial in this campaign season as polls show increasing numbers of voters disillusioned with the traditional party candidates of Trump and Biden. With a tight margin of victory expected in battleground states, swaying independent voters could make a significant difference for either candidate. While Biden declined an invitation to speak at the convention, Libertarian Party organizers are pushing for a strong showing in the upcoming election.
In the 2016 election, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson earned 3.3% of the votes as the Libertarian Party candidate, the highest number of votes ever won by a Libertarian presidential candidate. Activist Jo Jorgensen won 1.2% of the votes in 2020. With the Libertarian vote potentially playing a crucial role in the election outcome, the party is focusing on attracting independent voters and offering an alternative to the traditional party candidates. Trump’s absence from the list of potential nominees for the Libertarian presidential nomination highlights the party’s commitment to choosing a candidate that aligns with their values and principles.
