Former President Donald Trump’s attempt at extending a “hand of friendship” to members of the Libertarian National Convention was rebuked Saturday night.
Trump asked for the endorsement of the Libertarian Party, urging delegates to back him if they want to win. He also offered to appoint a Libertarian to his Cabinet if he is reelected.
“Nominate me, or at least vote for me, and we should win together,” Trump said, noting the party can do more than just 3% of the vote, as was the case in the 2016 election.
“Don’t waste a vote,” he later added.
The former president, however, found himself in a rare situation in contrast to his raucous rallies packed with true believers. His offer was greeted with loud booing from Libertarians that competed with vocal support from his own backers who attended the event Saturday night in Washington.
After getting booed loudly by attendees as he took the stage, Trump, too, questioned aloud why he agreed to address a hostile crowd.
“A lot of people ask why I came to speak at this Libertarian convention and you know, it’s an interesting question, isn’t it,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have a lot of fun.
“In the last year, I’ve been indicted by the government on 91 different things. So if I wasn’t a Libertarian before, I sure as hell am a Libertarian now.”
Trump did receive applause when he promised to pardon the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot “hostages” and “Silk Road” website creator Ross Ulbricht, who is serving a life sentence. Ulbricht’s freedom is a key cause of Libertarians, who held “Free Ross” signs throughout the convention weekend.
“If you vote for me on Day One, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht,” Trump said, as the crowd erupted in cheers and chants of “Free Ross.” “He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to get him home.”
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Trump’s attendance at the convention comes as he seeks to court the support of independents and swing voters, as his rematch with President Joe Biden could be decided by the mere thousands of votes in swing states. Both Biden and Trump are contending with the threat from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate who also addressed the convention with a warmer reception.
“I want to thank you,” Trump closed. “I want your support, and again, you can either nominate us and put us in the position or give us your votes. I would say nominate or give us your votes. But we want Libertarian votes because you stand for what we stand for.”
