A split-screen showdown between presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump and independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will take place this weekend at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., as each candidate seeks to court the party base.
However, the two candidates are unlikely to face each other directly, despite Kennedy’s calls for a debate between them. Kennedy addressed the convention Friday afternoon, a day before Trump’s appearance Saturday evening.
The Libertarian Party, which has electoral access in at least 37 states, is a hands-off political party that has undergone many variations since its founding in the 1970s. Its members are best known for being largely socially liberal and fiscally conservative.
The party hopes to confirm its presidential and vice-presidential candidates on Sunday.
“Libertarians are among our country’s most independent and thoughtful thinkers…We must all work together to help advance the freedom and liberty of every American, and a second Trump administration will achieve that goal. I “I look forward to speaking at the Libertarian Event which will be attended by many of my great friends,” Trump said in a statement to ABC News.
Both Trump and Kennedy are looking to woo voters where they can as Election Day approaches. Polls show Trump narrowly leading Biden — 41% to about 40%, respectively — while Kennedy trails with just under 10%, according to the national polling average of 538.
The Libertarian Party, which said it had invited Trump and Biden to speak, called the former president’s acceptance “momentary.”
“This momentous occasion will mark the first time that a former President will speak directly to our members, candidates and Executive Committee. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the perspectives of a prominent figure in American politics and see committing to libertarian ideals,” the party said. wrote in a press release.
Kennedy later accepted a speaking slot at the convention, then challenged Trump to a debate there, calling the venue “perfect neutral territory” for their meeting.
“You said yourself that you weren’t afraid to debate me as long as my poll numbers were correct…So let’s meet again in a few weeks and show the American public that at least two of the leading candidates not afraid to debate me debate each other,” Kennedy wrote on X earlier this month.
Trump did not respond to that invitation, but has since separately expressed his willingness to share the debate stage with Kennedy if the latter qualifies for the upcoming televised presidential debates scheduled for this summer.
Mark Rutherford, Libertarian Party presidential candidate, said some Libertarians objected to Trump and Kennedy attending their convention because they are not party candidates.
“This is the national convention of the Libertarian Party to nominate our nominee for president and vice-president of the Libertarian Party. He is the presumptive Republican nominee. It is inappropriate for him to be here to speak. We must “focus on our own candidates,” Rutherford said of Trump.
He said the same thing about Kennedy.
“Again, he’s running against our candidates…So it’s just not appropriate for them to be here,” Rutherford said.
“(Libertarian Party leaders) are bragging about bringing these people in. I think it’s confusing the public and people. Why are they here at our presidential inauguration convention?”
Chase Oliver, one of the Libertarian presidential candidates, called the presence of Trump and Kennedy at their convention “confusing.”
“When they see Donald Trump speaking with a libertarian banner behind them, it’s going to confuse our brand as an average voter…we’re going to have to dig out of that hole and really present a real contrast, which I think.” I’m happy to do it, but it would be a lot easier if we didn’t have them on our stage,” Oliver said in an interview Friday with ABC News White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks.
But another Libertarian delegate, Garrett Steele of Nashville, Tennessee, said he was excited to have Trump and Kennedy at the convention because they “brought attention” to the party and its agenda.
Oliver joins Michael Rectenwald, Mike Ter Maat, Lars Mapstead, Jacob Hornberger, Joshua Smith, Joseph Collins, Charles Ballay, Toad, Art Olivier and Jody Jones as the party’s convention candidates.
“There are a lot of people running,” Rutherford said, indicating there was no obvious favorite in the race.
There is a chance Kennedy will be nominated by delegates to the Libertarian National Convention in Sunday’s vote.
ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim, Soorin Kim, Lalee Ibssa and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
News Source : abcnews.go.com
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