Former President Trump Urges Libertarians to Join Forces, Promises to Commute Ross Ulbricht's Sentence

Washington D.C., District of Columbia United States of America
Former President Trump spoke at the Libertarian National Convention on May 26, 2024
Trump pledged to commute Ross Ulbricht's sentence for operating Silk Road
Trump promised to protect cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin, from government intervention and central bank digital currencies
Trump urged Libertarians to join forces with him and promised a cabinet position for a Libertarian if elected
Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for drug-related crimes and six deaths occurred during his tenure as founder
Former President Trump Urges Libertarians to Join Forces, Promises to Commute Ross Ulbricht's Sentence

Former President Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at the Libertarian National Convention on May 26, 2024, where he urged the party to 'combine with us' and pledged to put a Libertarian in his cabinet if elected. During his speech, Trump also promised to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of the online drug-selling site Silk Road.

Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for operating Silk Road between 2011 and 2013. Six deaths and five attempted murders occurred during this time. Trump had previously considered intervening to release Ulbricht but ultimately decided against it.

Trump's appearance at the convention was part of an ongoing effort to reach out to potential supporters in non-Republican strongholds. The former president also pledged to protect cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin, from government intervention and the creation of a central bank digital currency.

The Libertarian Party has had limited success in presidential elections, with their most successful attempt being Gary Johnson's campaign in 2016. Trump urged party members not to settle for getting only 3% of the votes in the general election but instead to join forces with him.

Trump's speech was met with mixed reactions from the crowd, with some booing and others cheering. The former president also faced criticism for his COVID-19 policies, running up towering federal deficits, and lying about his political record.

Libertarians are known for their skepticism towards government intervention and individual freedoms. Some in the crowd held 'Free Ross' signs and chanted for Ulbricht's release. Others opposed criminal drug policies more broadly.

Trump's campaign has faced opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans, with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenging him to a debate at the convention.

The 2024 election is expected to be a tight rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden, with both campaigns committing to two head-to-head debates.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • The body mentions six deaths during Ulbricht's tenure as founder of Silk Road, but does not specify if these were directly related to his actions or not.
  • Trump's promise to protect cryptocurrencies is a political stance and may change depending on the circumstances

Sources

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Trump, accustomed to friendly crowds, confronts repeated booing during Libertarian convention speech

The Associated Press News Saturday, 25 May 2024 04:06
  • Unique Points
    • Donald Trump was booed repeatedly during his speech at the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday night.
    • Many in the crowd shouted insults and decried Trump for things like his COVID-19 policies, running up towering federal deficits, and lying about his political record.
    • Libertarians, who prioritize small government and individual freedoms, are often skeptical of Trump.
    • Trump tried to praise the ‘fierce champions of freedom in this room’ and called President Joe Biden a ‘tyrant’ and the ‘worst president in the history of the United States’
    • Some Libertarians believe government investigators overreached in building their case against Silk Road and oppose criminal drug policies more broadly.
    • Trump promised to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of drug-selling website Silk Road.
  • Accuracy
    • Trump urged Libertarians to ‘combine with us’ to beat President Biden in November.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The author uses phrases like 'rare moment of Trump coming face-to-face with open detractors', 'former president, and his invitation to address the convention has divided the party', 'prompting some in the audience to scream back: That's you.', 'despite those promises, many in the crowd remained antagonistic.' These phrases are editorializing and show a bias against Trump. The author also selectively reports information by focusing on instances of booing and insults towards Trump while ignoring positive reactions from his supporters. For example, the author mentions that 'many in the crowd hissed in disbelief' but does not mention the chant of 'We want Trump!' from supporters.
    • rare moment of Trump coming face-to-face with open detractors
    • despite those promises, many in the crowd remained antagonistic.
    • former president, and his invitation to address the convention has divided the party
    • prompting some in the audience to scream back: That's you.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article contains a few instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The author refers to Trump as a “tyrant” and the “worst president in the history of the United States”, which is an inflammatory statement. Additionally, there are examples of appeals to authority when referencing polls that show most voters do not want a 2020 rematch between Trump and Biden, as well as when mentioning the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson winning about 3% of the national vote in 2016. However, no formal fallacies or dichotomous depictions are present in the article.
    • Donald Trump was booed repeatedly... with many in the crowd shouting insults and decrying him for things like his COVID-19 policies...
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Trump vows to commute prison sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

Fox News Media Bradford Betz Sunday, 26 May 2024 02:32
  • Unique Points
    • Former President Trump vowed to commute the prison sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road
    • Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for operating Silk Road between 2011 and 2013 where six deaths and five attempted murders occurred
    • Trump pledged to protect cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin, from government intervention and the creation of a central bank digital currency
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

89%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Trump draws mixed reactions as he urges Libertarians ‘combine with us’

The Hill News Site: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate-seethe-republicans-call-for-israeli-elections/ Julia Mueller Sunday, 26 May 2024 01:49
  • Unique Points
    • Donald Trump spoke at the Libertarian Convention in Washington D.C. on May 26, 2024
    • Trump urged Libertarians to ‘combine with us’ to beat President Biden in November
    • Trump committed to putting a Libertarian in his Cabinet if he wins the Oval Office in 2024
    • Trump also committed to commuting Ross Ulbricht’s sentence for operating a platform for buying and selling illegal drugs
  • Accuracy
    • Trump promised to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of drug-selling website Silk Road
  • Deception (70%)
    The author uses editorializing and manipulation by quoting Trump's statements out of context to create a narrative that the Libertarians are being asked to 'combine with us' in a negative way. The author also implies that Trump is trying to coerce the Libertarians into endorsing him, which is not explicitly stated in the article. Additionally, there is selective reporting as some details about Kennedy's speech and Trump's commitment to a Libertarian in his Cabinet are omitted.
    • As part of his appeal to the party, Trump also committed to putting a Libertarian in his Cabinet if he wins the Oval Office in 2024 – and to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, who is serving life in prison for his role in operating a platform for buying and selling illegal drugs.
    • The remarks drew a mix of boos and cheers from a crowd of both Libertarians and pro-Trump attendees.
    • Trump is heading toward a tight rematch with Biden in the fall, and the pair have committed to two head-to-head debates – as Kennedy decries his exclusion.
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The author makes an appeal to unity and partnership with the Libertarian party, but also uses inflammatory rhetoric towards them by implying they are not serious about winning and only get three percent of the votes every four years. This is a form of insulting or belittling someone based on their group membership or actions, which is an informal fallacy known as Ad Hominem.
    • ]The fact is we should not be fighting each other. If Joe Biden gets back in, there will be no more liberty for anyone in our country. Combine with us in a partnership, we’re asking that of the libertarians. We must work together. Combine with us. You have to combine with us.[/
    • Maybe you don’t want to win … Keep getting your three percent every four years.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Former President Trump Speaks at Libertarian Party Convention

C-SPAN News Site Analysis Sunday, 26 May 2024 02:34
  • Unique Points
    • Former President Trump spoke at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC.
    • Trump urged Libertarian Party members to choose him as their nominee instead of getting 3% of the votes in the general election.
    • He made pledges such as filling senior positions with Libertarians if elected and pardoning Jan. 6 convicts.
  • Accuracy
    • Former President Trump was booed repeatedly during his speech at the Libertarian Party National Convention.
    • Trump promised to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of drug-selling website Silk Road.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

81%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Trump promises Libertarian in his cabinet if party backs him

Axios News Site: https://www.axios.com/2024/01-30/prior-authorization-gap-insurer-drug-decisions Lauren Floyd Sunday, 26 May 2024 01:34
  • Unique Points
    • Trump committed to putting a Libertarian in his cabinet and Libertarians in senior posts if the party backed him as its nominee
    • Trump promised to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, operator of an unlawful web marketplace dubbed Silk Road
  • Accuracy
    • Trump committed to putting a Libertarian in his cabinet and Libertarians in senior posts if the party backed him
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of Trump committing to putting a Libertarian in his cabinet and promising to free certain individuals. The author also uses emotional manipulation by stating 'What earned Trump the loudest cheers and applause, however, was his promise to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht,' implying that this is a positive thing for the Libertarian Party when it could be seen as a negative due to Ulbricht's criminal record. The author also uses sensationalism by stating 'The former president also promised to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.' without providing any context or information about the circumstances of their cases.
    • What earned Trump the loudest cheers and applause, however, was his promise to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the operator of an unlawful web marketplace dubbed Silk Road. The former president also promised to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Jan. 6 Capitol rioters.
    • The crowd responded with overwhelming boos, to which the former president responded: ‘Only do that, if you want to win.’
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (90%)
    The author expresses a clear bias towards Trump by describing him as 'former President Trump' and 'the former president' multiple times throughout the article. The author also quotes Trump making promises to Libertarians and receiving cheers from the crowd, implying that this is significant or noteworthy. Additionally, the author includes criticism from David Boaz regarding having Trump speak at the convention but does not provide any counterargument or perspective from those in favor of having Trump speak.
    • For 50 years, we’ve been trying to get our candidates on the main stage with major party POTUS candidates and we’ve finally succeeded in bringing one to our stage.
      • Former President Trump, speaking at the Libertarian National Convention on Saturday
        • It was a point Trump also highlighted in his speech.
          • The former President Trump
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication