Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump Make Appeals to Far Right at Libertarian Convention

Former President Donald Trump and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made waves over the weekend as they spoke at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington D.C. The convention, held on May 24 and May 25, saw the two figures appeal for support from the far right, highlighting the continuing shift to the right of the US ruling class.

Kennedy, who spoke at the convention on Friday, and Trump, who appeared on Saturday, aimed to assure the ruling class of their commitment to defending private property above all else. Despite their efforts, Kennedy was eliminated in the first round of voting, receiving only 2.07 percent of delegate votes. Trump, who was not eligible for nomination due to paperwork issues, received six write-in votes.

Kennedy, who continues to poll between 8-10 percent nationally, thanked the party for the opportunity and expressed a desire for independent and third parties to unite to challenge the two-party system. Trump, on the other hand, focused his attacks on President Joe Biden, Marxism, and communism, promising to fight for individual freedoms and tax cuts for corporations.

Both candidates received support from wealthy donors, with Kennedy receiving donations from billionaire Timothy Mellon and Trump receiving support from the National Rifle Association. Trump also pledged to pardon the January 6 protesters and commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road.

The speeches by Kennedy and Trump at the Libertarian convention reflect the growing support for right-wing capitalist politics in the US. As the country grapples with increasing interest in socialism among workers and youth, the appeal to the far right by these candidates underscores the polarized political landscape in the lead-up to the 2024 election.