What is the Donald Trump ‘squeaky chicken’ Libertarian controversy? 

Rubber and noisy chickens were distributed this weekend at the Libertarian Party convention in Washington, D.C., to invite former President Trump to debate independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The rubber chickens, which had the words “Debate Bobby” on them, were observed by multiple medicineIa point of sale at the weekend convention, where Trump was welcomed by a noisy crowd and a mix of boos and applause.

Tony Lyons, co-chair of the pro-Kennedy super PAC American Values ​​2024, confirmed to CNN that the group distributed the rubber chickens to attendees on Saturday, and The Hill has reached out to the super PAC and the Kennedy campaign for further comment.

On a video of Trump’s speech on Saturdayan apparent silhouette of a rubber chicken could be seen being held by an audience member.

CNN reported that Secret Service agents confiscated some of the rubber chickens before Trump’s speech.

Nate Herring, a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, told The Hill that the agency frequently publishes a list of prohibited items that are not allowed on secured sites.

“While this list specifically identifies several objects that are not permitted in secure areas, the list also includes a general prohibition on any items determined, in the agent’s discretion, to be a potential security risk or disruptive to the event,” Herring wrote in a communicated. declaration.

Both Trump and Kennedy spoke at the convention in an attempt to bolster libertarian support before November.

Earlier this month, Kennedy began his calls for Trump to formally debate it at the convention, calling it “perfect neutral territory” for both presidential candidates.

“You said yourself that you are not afraid to debate me as long as my poll numbers are decent,” Kennedy wrote in a lengthy post on social platform X earlier this month. “Well, they are. In fact, I am the only presidential candidate in history who has placed ahead of both major party candidates in head-to-head races.”

Both President Biden and Trump, who are the presumptive nominees of their respective parties, have already agreed to two general election debates, both of which Kennedy stayed out.

This could change if he fulfills the debate limitwhich requires 15 percent support in four national polls and voting in enough states to hypothetically secure 270 electoral votes.

Kennedy argued to have been left out of the two general election debates “undermines democracy,” writing, “Presidents Trump and Biden are conspiring to trap America in a direct confrontation that 70% say they don’t want.”

Trump said that there would be “no problem” have Kennedy join the presidential debate stage with Biden if he reaches the threshold.

Neither the Kennedy nor Trump campaigns immediately responded to The Hill’s request for comment.

The environmental lawyer, who switched to an independent ticket last fall after a failed primary run as a Democrat, argued that the party’s putative nominees are unfit to continue serving.

While he will look to appear evenly against Biden and Trump on the ballot in all 50 states, political strategists predict he will likely only need a few significant states to create a “spoiler” effect.

Most national polls have recently suggested that Kennedy could hurt Biden’s numbers more than Trump’s in a hypothetical general election scenario.

Kennedy is still far behind Biden and Trump, securing about 8.3% of the vote, compared to Trump with about 41.8% and Biden with 40.1%, according to a voting index by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ.

Kennedy spoke at the convention a day before Trump, making a series of attacks on the former president over his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.