Trump Targeting RFK Jr. at Libertarian Party Convention

Donald Trump is set to address the Libertarians’ national convention on Saturday night in an attempt to reach out to a skeptical segment of mostly conservative voters. He aims to prevent party activists from being swayed towards independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

During the convention in Washington, where Libertarians will choose their White House nominee, Kennedy, who initially ran in the Democrat primary, addressed the attendees on Friday but has stated that he is not interested in being the Libertarian nominee.

Recent polls have indicated that most voters, including a majority of Democrats, are not in favor of a 2020 rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden. This circumstance could potentially drive support towards an alternative candidate like the Libertarian nominee or Kennedy, raising concerns among allies of both Biden and Trump that Kennedy could act as a spoiler.

In the 2016 election, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson received about 3% of the national vote, while in the 2020 election, party nominee Jo Jorgensen garnered just over 1% in a closely contested race.

Peter Goettler, president and CEO of the libertarian Cato Institute, criticized Trump’s invitation to the convention in a recent Washington Post column, suggesting that it goes against the core values of the gathering. He expressed concerns that the political party claiming to be libertarian is shifting towards a different identity.

Trump’s campaign views his appearance at the convention as part of an ongoing effort to connect with potential supporters in areas that are not predominantly Republican. Despite expecting some opposition to Trump at the convention, his team hopes that his presence will be acknowledged and that he will be recognized for his efforts to secure votes.

The Libertarian ticket aims to attract support from disillusioned Republicans as well as individuals on the left who oppose what they perceive as government overreach. These voters may also be drawn towards Kennedy.

Kennedy, son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, emphasizes his record of advocating for the middle class against powerful interests. He is also trying to appeal to conservatives who desire a departure from Trump within the national GOP.

Kennedy’s stance on anti-vaccine activism has resonated with some on the right who are against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He has also suggested that some of the pro-Trump rioters involved in the Capitol storming on January 6, 2021, may have faced prosecution for political reasons.

While Trump previously praised Kennedy and considered him for a vaccination safety commission, he has now shifted his tone. Trump has warned on social media that voting for Kennedy would be a “wasted protest vote” and even stated that he would prefer Biden over Kennedy.

Trump, who once hailed the COVID-19 vaccine as a medical miracle, has now pledged that if elected, he will not allocate funds to public institutions that mandate COVID-19 vaccinations. He has accused Kennedy of being a “fake” anti-vaccine opponent, likely aiming to consolidate support among his base who might otherwise consider siding with Kennedy.

In his address at the convention, Kennedy criticized both Trump and Biden for infringing on personal liberties in response to the pandemic throughout their presidencies. Trump succumbed to pressure from health officials and imposed business shutdowns, while Biden’s mandate for millions of workers to receive vaccines was deemed inappropriate by Kennedy.

Vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, have been proven to be safe and effective through laboratory testing and real-world usage by millions of people over many years. The World Health Organization acknowledges that childhood vaccines prevent millions of deaths annually.

While no medical intervention is without risks, scientific evidence indicates that the risks associated with diseases are typically far greater than those posed by vaccines.

A group advocating against vaccines, led by Kennedy, has filed a lawsuit against several news organizations, including The Associated Press, alleging antitrust violations for taking action against misinformation related to COVID-19 and its vaccines. Kennedy stepped back from the group upon announcing his presidential candidacy but remains listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.

Biden has sought to underscore his endorsement from prominent members of the Kennedy family to diminish Kennedy’s influence.

MoveOn Political Action, a group supporting Biden, has deployed a mobile billboard around the convention denouncing Kennedy as an “extremist,” highlighting his varying stances on abortion and arguing that voting for him would ultimately benefit Trump.