In a surprise turn of events at the Libertarian Party's convention on Sunday, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was eliminated from consideration for the party's presidential nomination. Despite being put up for consideration earlier in the day, Kennedy failed to garner enough support, receiving only 2.07% of the delegates' votes.

The nomination process took place on the convention floor, where Kennedy's candidacy was met with boos from other delegates. Even though Kennedy spoke at the party's national convention in Washington, DC, on Friday, his nomination was short-lived.

In another unexpected move, former President Donald Trump was nominated on the convention floor. However, Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle determined that Trump was not qualified due to his failure to submit nominating papers. Trump, who had been loudly booed during his speech on Saturday, received a total of six votes from delegates as a write-in candidate.

While Kennedy's elimination from the race was a blow to his campaign, he expressed gratitude to the Libertarian Party in a video statement accepting his nomination. Kennedy hoped to form an alliance with third-party and independent voters to challenge the "corrupt duopoly" of Republicans and Democrats and defeat President Joe Biden and Trump.

However, some Libertarian delegates felt that Kennedy was using the party for his personal gain without respecting its core values. Tim O'Brien, a delegate from New Jersey, criticized Kennedy for potentially abandoning the party after the election, stating that the party needed individuals committed to its principles.

Before announcing his independent run, Kennedy had been actively engaging with Libertarian officials to secure their support. The Libertarian ticket was seen as a potential solution to Kennedy's ballot-access hurdles, as the party has access to ballots in 38 states compared to Kennedy's six states.

Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, emphasized the relevance of the Libertarian Party and expressed optimism about working together with Kennedy. Shanahan, a Silicon Valley attorney and entrepreneur, noted the common ground and potential for success between their campaign and the Libertarian Party.

Kennedy, who has been gaining double-digit support in national surveys, has been targeted by attacks from former President Trump, who sees his candidacy as a potential threat. Trump has labeled Kennedy a "Democrat plant" and has ramped up his criticism through public remarks and social media.

As the election approaches and the competition tightens, the elimination of Kennedy from the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination adds another twist to the 2024 race. The convention will continue with subsequent rounds of voting, eliminating candidates with the lowest vote totals until a nominee is chosen to represent the party in the upcoming election.