Former President Donald fought off boos, jeers and outbursts Saturday night as he tried to rally support from Libertarian voters.
The presumptive Republican nominee was the first former president to address the Libertarian National Convention, a group that will choose its own presidential candidate this weekend.
That meant members of the crowd booed Trump, with several turning their backs on him and shouting at his pleas for Libertarians to join Republicans in defeating President Joe Biden.
“Now I think you should nominate me or at least vote for me because libertarians want to vote for me and most of them will,” Trump shouted to a mix of boos and cheers.
Before his speech, Trump spent time backstage meeting with Afroman, the rapper responsible for the 2000 hit Because I Got High.
Former President Donald battled boos, jeers and outbursts Saturday night as he tried to rally support from Libertarian voters.
Members of the crowd stand on chairs during Saturday’s Libertarian National Convention. Trump was interrupted throughout his presentation.
Several hours before Trump arrived, the party leader asked party delegates to occupy the front seats, while the MAGA crowd was asked to move further back.
That meant his most boisterous supporters had to shout over the front of the audience, who were more likely to boo.
As he continued to be heckled, Trump became more comfortable booing some members of the crowd.
‘What is the purpose of the Libertarian Party getting three percent?’ Trump asked, noting that the party has not been successful nationally in presidential elections.
‘That’s why I commit tonight to putting a libertarian in my cabinet and also libertarians in high-level positions. “That’s pretty big,” the former Republican president said. “Or you could continue like you’ve done for the last few decades and get your three percent.”
“It’s time to be winners,” he said.
More than an hour before Trump took the stage, the libertarian and MAGA forces in the room were already at war.
At the same time, attendees were drinking, as bars with drink tickets were set up around the room.
The theme of this year’s Libertarian National Convention is “going ungovernable.”
The crowd took it seriously: Several members of the group, including one who appeared to be dressed as Princess Leia, were dragged or chased by security.