Vivek Ramaswamy, a political novice who gained attention for his outspoken debate performances, on January 15 announced the end of his campaign for the presidential run in the 2024 US elections. He has chosen to endorse former president Donald Trump for US polls due later this year.
Ramaswamy announced the end of his campaign hours after Trump cruised to victory in the Iowa caucus, warding off a late challenge from rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley and cementing his status as the clear Republican frontrunner in the race.
The Iowa caucuses, which begin on January 15, formally kick off the beginning of the long process by which the Republicans and Democrats choose their nominees for the presidential election on November 5.
It must be noted that earlier on January 15, Trump's top adviser, Jason Miller, told the New York Post that voters could probably rule out 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur Ramaswamy as the ex-president's running mate. “Pretty safe to say it won't be Vivek,” Miller was quoted as saying in the report.
On January 13, Trump, 77, lashed out at Ramaswamy, who was most closely aligned with him in the race for the Republican nomination, accusing him of "deceitful campaign tricks". The former president's criticism stemmed from shirts that Ramaswamy's campaign was handing out that said 'Save Trump, Vote Vivek' on them.
On January 15, Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, said, “A vote for Vivek is a wasted vote. I like Vivek, but he played it too ‘cute’ with us…Caucus tonight, vote for Donald J. Trump, build up the numbers!!! In November, we must take our very troubled nation — a nation in decline — back from crooked Joe Biden and the radical left democrats and thugs who are destroying it. maga!!!”
I’ve defended Trump at every step & respect him immensely. You won’t hear me attacking him. I’m asking for your vote tonight because I believe it’s the right thing for our country. We cannot walk into the other side’s trap & watch the puppet masters quietly trot Nikki into power. pic.twitter.com/E1gM5ydrXW
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 15, 2024
Ramaswamy responded to the post on Twitter, saying, “I’ve defended Trump at every step & respect him immensely. You won’t hear me attacking him. I’m asking for your vote tonight because I believe it’s the right thing for our country. We cannot walk into the other side’s trap and watch the puppet masters quietly trot Nikki into power.”
I’m a businessman, not a politician. My parents came to this country 40 years ago with no money, and I’ve gone on to found multibillion dollar companies. I did it while getting married to my wife Apoorva and raising our two sons. That’s the American Dream. For a long time, we… pic.twitter.com/4es2ycLFNx
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 15, 2024
In the run-up to the latest announcement i.e. stepping away from the presidential bid, Ramaswamy tweeted, “I’m a businessman, not a politician. My parents came to this country 40 years ago with no money, and I’ve gone on to found multibillion dollar companies. I did it while getting married to my wife Apoorva and raising our two sons. That’s the American Dream. For a long time, we conservatives have been running *from* something. Now is our moment to start running *to* something. To our vision of what it means to be an American.”
With inputs from agencies
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