Top Line
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate, drew cheers during a speech at the Libertarian Convention on Friday in which he blasted former President Donald Trump's pandemic lockdown measures, just one day before Trump is scheduled to address the same audience on Saturday.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Libertarian National Convention … [+]
Key Facts
Kennedy, a skeptic of vaccines and public health measures taken during the pandemic, argued that President Trump “caved to” bureaucrats in imposing pandemic lockdowns.
Kennedy drew applause when he said Trump has presided over “the greatest restriction of individual liberty we've ever seen in this country,” citing business closures, mask mandates and travel restrictions.
Kennedy, whose third-party candidacy could be a hindrance to Trump, said Trump “failed to defend the Constitution when it really mattered” and argued there are no pandemic exceptions to constitutional rights.
Trump's speech wasn't the only indication that he may face at least a somewhat hostile crowd on Saturday: Former Republican presidential candidate and current Trump supporter Vivek Ramaswami was also booed when he mentioned Trump in his own speech.
When will Trump speak at the Libertarian Convention?
Trump is scheduled to address the convention at 8 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
Main Background
The Libertarian Party is divided over inviting both Kennedy and Trump to speak at its convention, where the party will choose its presidential candidate. Neither candidate is a Libertarian, and some party members were reportedly unhappy with the party's decision to invite candidates who do not directly represent the party's goals. But with Trump and Biden vying for independent votes, their speeches before third-party voters could highlight the potential threat Kennedy poses to the Trump campaign. Recent polls suggest Kennedy is more likely to sway voters away from Trump than Biden, but polls have consistently shown both major candidates, Biden and Trump, to be unpopular.
tangent
Tensions over the decision to invite Trump and Kennedy continued throughout the day at the convention on Friday, reportedly escalating into fistfights as party delegates made a last-ditch effort to disinvite both candidates. Some Libertarian Party members have said they plan to protest Trump's speech, according to Politico.
Amazing facts
Kennedy was an independent candidate with no official party affiliation, so he had to file petitions to get on the ballot in most states. He managed to get on the ballot by winning the nomination of lesser known parties. For example, in Florida, he won the nomination of the little known “Reform Party.” He also filed lawsuits for voting rights in several states, including Utah and Maine. He is running in eight states.
