Former President Donald Trump addressed the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, where he made several promises to win over skeptical party activists. Among his pledges, Trump vowed to commute the prison sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the online drug-selling site Silk Road, to time served if elected. He also said he would protect cryptocurrencies by stopping President Biden’s “crusade to crush crypto.”
Trump’s appearance at the convention was part of an ongoing effort to reach would-be supporters in places that are not heavily Republican. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed the convention on Friday.
Ulbricht, now 40, was sentenced in 2015 to life in prison for his role in the operation of Silk Road, which was used to buy and sell illegal drugs. During his presidency, Trump considered intervening to release Ulbricht, but ultimately decided against the pardon.
Trump’s pledge to commute Ulbricht’s sentence was met with loud cheers from the crowd. He said Ulbricht had already served 11 years in prison and deserved to be released.
In addition to his comments on Ulbricht, Trump also spoke about his support for cryptocurrencies. He said he would ensure that the future of crypto and the future of Bitcoin would be made in the USA, not driven overseas. He also said he would support the right of self-custody and would never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency.
Trump’s speech was well-received by the Libertarian crowd. Many attendees held up signs that read “FREE ROSS,” and they cheered loudly for Trump’s promises to protect cryptocurrencies.
It remains to be seen whether Trump’s promises will be enough to win over Libertarian voters. However, his appearance at the convention was a sign that he is taking their support seriously.
