The Libertarian Party strongly condemns Israel’s recent military attacks on Tehran, which it has branded as “preemptive” strikes on what it claims were nuclear-related sites. Multiple reputable outlets report that explosions rocked the Iranian capital early today, and Israel has declared a nationwide emergency amid fears of a retaliatory missile and drone assault. These aggressive actions dangerously risk dragging the United States into a regional war—one that could escalate into World War III. We are alarmed by Netanyahu’s apparent competition with Zelensky to provoke conflict for political gain, with each hoping that increasing casualties will secure greater U.S. military funding. Such a tactic is reckless and inexcusable. Libertarians recognize that the Israeli lobby in Washington has long sought justification to draw the U.S. into Middle East warfare, especially with Iran. Today’s events seem designed to pave the way for that narrative. Every taxpayer dollar diverted into endless defense spending simultaneously impoverishes Americans and diminishes our national security — particularly if these provocations pull America toward nuclear brinkmanship with Iran or its allies. We reject the notion of war as a policy lever. Our philosophy upholds diplomacy, free trade, and legitimate national defense—not foreign interventionism. We call on Washington to: •Immediately distance the United States from support of further military escalation in the Middle East. •Reinforce diplomatic efforts rather than military posturing. •Reverse the erosion of civil liberties and financial health caused by war-driven budget priorities. •Cease all foreign military aide and seek an exit from all entangling military alliances and pacts. •Bar foreign lobbyists from doing business in Washington. The world teeters on the brink of a catastrophic miscalculation. Nuclear war is incompatible with freedom or prosperity. We implore Congress and the Executive Branch to pull us back from this precipice—before it is too late. Sincerely, Steven Nekhaila Chairman, Libertarian National Committee

There comes a moment in every organization’s life when a line must be drawn. Not for drama. Not for applause. But for survival. This past week was one of those moments. Let me make this perfectly clear: The Libertarian Party is not becoming more moderate. It’s becoming more serious. We’ve had years of noise. Years of performative outrage. Years of turning our own platforms into battlegrounds for petty feuds and ego-driven spectacle. That era is over. I didn’t take this role to manage feelings. I took it to restore discipline, direction, and dignity to a party that dares to speak the word liberty in an age of submission. Leadership is not about pandering. It’s about protecting the mission. And that mission does not survive: •When we burn our own house down over factional drama •When Party accounts are used to lob insults instead of build support •When we mistake chaos for courage, and trolling for truth This movement is bigger than memes. It’s bigger than Twitter/X. And it is certainly bigger than the egos trying to hijack it. If that offends a few loud voices, so be it. I wasn’t chosen to be liked. I was chosen to lead. If you’re tired of watching this party sabotage itself— If you’re ready to build something that outlasts the noise— If you still believe liberty is worth defending with clarity, strength, and steel— Then I want you with me. This isn’t just a turning point. It’s a reckoning. And it’s long overdue. – Steven Nekhaila Chair, Libertarian National Committee lp.org/stevendonor

Some libertarians believe that because a Republican president once granted a pardon at our movement’s request, or because some GOP politicians borrow our rhetoric, we now have a seat at the table. Let’s be brutally honest: that was a transaction, not a partnership. Political favors are granted based on convenience, not allegiance. The mistake isn’t in making the request—it’s in thinking it meant we had power. Some argue that aligning with “liberty-friendly” Republicans is a winning strategy, that we should throw our votes behind their candidates to get incremental wins. But history shows that junior partners in politics do not influence the powerful—they are absorbed and discarded: ✅ Power is built, not borrowed. No movement in history won by hitching itself to a larger political machine and hoping for scraps. That’s what useful tools do, not serious political actors. ✅ The GOP takes, it does not give. They will absorb libertarian votes, energy, and activists, then discard us the moment our principles become inconvenient. ✅ Influence without leverage is meaningless. If libertarians had real leverage, we wouldn’t need to beg for concessions—we would be dictating terms. Historical Parallels: The Fate of Political Subordinates •The Anti-Federalists were absorbed by the Federalists and disappeared. Their ideas survived, but their political independence did not. •The Tea Party was devoured by the GOP. What started as an anti-establishment movement became another wing of the very machine it opposed. •Libertarian-leaning Republicans are tolerated, not empowered. They may play the game well, but they will never be allowed to control the party. The Only Path to Power Is Independence Some in our own party have made the mistake of believing we can trade political independence for “influence.” Instead of fighting to expand the party’s own power, they encouraged voters to back Republicans, undermined our presidential candidate, and thought that negotiating for a single pardon meant we were finally being taken seriously. That’s not strategy. That’s subservience. Libertarians must stop seeking permission to be relevant. We must stop trading our identity for minor policy wins. •We must build independent power through winnable local races (sheriffs, city councils, school boards). •We must force major parties to adapt to us, not the other way around. •We must extract real concessions, not settle for symbolic gestures. A Seat at the Table Means Nothing if You’re on the Menu The idea of a Libertarian-Republican alliance is a myth unless libertarians wield actual power. Otherwise, we are just a bargaining chip—traded away when convenient. Libertarians must stop being pawns in someone else’s game and start playing to win.