In a somewhat surprising move, former President Donald Trump addressed the Libertarian Party Convention Saturday night. It was a risky idea. Unlike his rallies, which are packed with supporters, the Libertarian Party wasn't going to be a friendly crowd. Optics are extremely important to political campaigns, and having your candidate endure the wrath of an unfriendly crowd doesn't look good.
And, sure enough, Trump was heckled and booed by the crowd during his speech, but I would argue that it was actually the Libertarian Party that came off looking worse during Trump's speech, in which he essentially offered the Libertarian Party an olive branch and more influence in his second administration.
While the crowd certainly had plenty of reasons to be skeptical of him, it was arguably the biggest opportunity the Libertarian Party has had to bring their values to the federal government. During his speech, Trump promised that Libertarians would play a role in his administration.
"I'm committing to you tonight that I will put a Libertarian in my cabinet, and also, Libertarians in senior posts," he said.
President Trump at the Libertarian National Convention: "I'm committing to you tonight that I will put a Libertarian in my cabinet, and also, Libertarians in senior posts." pic.twitter.com/55VhLN9uhk
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) May 26, 2024
That's a pretty big deal, and one that should have made the party realize that their best chance to gain influence was to rally behind him. Instead, they rejected him when he called on convention-goers to nominate him as their party's candidate.
Trump responded to the booing with his own jabs by telling the crowd they "don't want to win."
"You can keep going the way you have for the last long decades and get your 3 percent and meet again, get another 3 percent," he said.
Related: Trump Booed and Jeered During Speech at the Libertarian Party Convention
Let's face it: Trump is right. Even though their principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets resonate with many Americans, the Libertarian Party has long been relegated to the political sidelines. This persistent irrelevance stems largely from an inability to pragmatically engage with the broader political landscape and be a part of a coalition that actually has a chance to bring libertarian values back to the government.
Trump is leading in the polls, and his olive branch served as the best opportunity for the Libertarian Party to experience electoral success. Instead, the Libertarian Party's purity tests and insistence on nominating candidates who have little to no chance of winning elections have consigned them to the fringes.
Yes, Trump can't exactly claim to embody libertarian ideals—heck, neither can the Republican Party—but Trump's presidency saw substantial deregulation efforts and significant tax reforms, areas where Libertarians can find common ground with the GOP. By aligning with Trump, the Libertarian Party could have positioned itself to have a more pivotal role in shaping the policies of a second Trump administration.
Aren't small steps forward better than standing still?
