While President Joe Biden will have to contend with Democrat-turned-independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. siphoning votes from him in November, it seems former President Donald Trump won’t have to worry as much about the libertarian candidate taking from him.
Trump spoke at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington on Saturday in an attempt to persuade the small political party to endorse him in this fall’s presidential election.
He attempted to appeal to a mixed crowd of attendees, joking, “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.”
“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 pic.twitter.com/j2gJGQLxY6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 26, 2024
Nonetheless, the former president was still booed numerous times throughout his speech.
And despite his best efforts, Trump did not secure the endorsement of the Libertarian Party.
However, the Libertarians did him a huge favor with whom they chose as their nominee in November.
On Sunday, at the end of the convention, the party announced its delegates had selected Chase Oliver as their candidate.
The delegates have selected Chase Oliver as the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate. pic.twitter.com/M8c5IhKWez
— Libertarian Party (@LPNational) May 27, 2024
Oliver is very much a social libertarian, with stances on cultural issues that are likely to alienate many on the right who otherwise might consider voting for him.
Social media posts show the 38-year-old gay political activist has spoken out in favor of abortion on demand, drag queen story hour and business-mandated masking, among other things.
I would actually vote for codifying Roe and Casey
Again, its a bodily autonomy and privacy argument.
I’m also happy to discuss how we can lower the instance of abortion without outright bans.
We also need to vastly simplify the process of adoption so it’s more viable.
— Chase Oliver (@ChaseForLiberty) October 5, 2022
Libertarian nominee Chase Oliver:
99% of drag queen story hours are fine for kids. If he had children, he says he’d bring them to one and leave them there.
“It’s just like the Wiggles” pic.twitter.com/grNYFtAVHQ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 27, 2024
I am amazed that the same generation who grew up on Mrs Doubtfire are now terrified at the idea that a drag queen might read a book to kids.
— Chase Oliver (@ChaseForLiberty) April 1, 2022
Just like the last year and a half, if a business asks me to wear a mask, I will.
I don’t support government making that choice for businesses.Wearing a mask is not the worst tyranny you or I will encounter in this lifetime.
There’s a lot worse out there.— Chase Oliver (@ChaseForLiberty) July 28, 2021
If you’re attacking a loving gay couple for wanting to adopt or have a child via surrogacy, please don’t label yourself as a supporter of “family values”
Families come in many different configurations. The most important factor is love.
That’s it.
— Chase Oliver (@ChaseForLiberty) December 3, 2023
Oliver also has argued that it should be legal for adults to be naked in front of children.
Radio host @AP4Liberty plays clip on his show this morning of @LPNational nominee @ChaseForLiberty answering a question about whether it should be legal for adults to be naked in front of children.
Oliver: “it happens at every Mardi Gras”
WATCH ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eEkQBMkUaT
— Eric John | Pizza Artist (@EricJohnArt) May 28, 2024
Perhaps a few Republicans who have fallen for the NeverTrump rhetoric the mainstream media has pushed will vote for the Libertarian candidate in November, but the vast majority of conservatives who do even minimal research into Oliver will not.
The Libertarian Party nominee is an open border advocate, pro trans youth, pro drag queen story hour, pro choice & a “former” democrat.
Meet Chase Oliver! pic.twitter.com/YbNQ8ZXNXM
— Mayor (@Mayoralpodcast) May 27, 2024
That will be a major difference between the Biden campaign and Trump’s.
Will this nomination hurt Biden more than Trump?
Democrats have admitted they’re massively concerned with RFK Jr. pulling swaths of voters away from the president.
Meanwhile, the independent candidate has isolated himself from many conservatives by picking longtime Democrat Nicole Shanahan as his running mate.
He also has voiced support for full-term abortion, although he backpedaled soon afterward.
Faced with the alternatives of Biden, Kennedy and Oliver on the ballot, Republicans surely will cast their votes for Trump.
