Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race immediately once voting started, has begun urging the two strongest challengers to Donald Trump to withdraw from the race and endorse the former president.
The tech entrepreneur who made waves during the GOP has been accused of being a “stalking horse” for the Trump campaign, allowing the former president to avoid debating Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley while siphoning votes in Iowa from the two other contenders.
Ramaswamy made the case for rallying behind Trump during an interview with Jesse Watters:
“I think Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley would actually, at this point, do this country and this party a service by stepping aside to make sure that we’re focused on not only nominating Donald Trump but getting this country back and reviving those founding revolutionary ideals,” Ramaswamy said.
He went on to assert that it “would be healthy for this country” if the two competitors stepped down and endorsed the frontrunner after just one primary.
“[GOP voters] sent a positive message to all of us that Donald Trump needs to be the nominee of this party, and I think Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley would actually at this point do this country and this party a service by stepping aside,” the former candidate claimed.
“Especially Ron DeSantis, of the two of them, will have an important role to play in the future of this country and leading this nation. I believe that,” he said.
In Monday’s Iowa contest, Ramaswamy finished in fourth place with 8 percent of the vote before joining the former president on stage during the Trump victory speech that night.
On Tuesday, the former president announced that he’d be teaming up with Ramaswamy. “He’s going to be working with us and he’ll be working with us for a long time,” Trump said to a rally in New Hampshire as the crowd broke out in cheers.
America-First. One movement. Indivisible. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/UXhjl7Anxe
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 17, 2024
The biotech entrepreneur himself reacted to the comments on social media, writing “America-First. One movement. Indivisible.”
Although the crowd chanted “VP” following Vivek’s speech, Trump aides were quick to pour cold water on the idea.
“Pretty safe to say it won’t be Vivek,” Jason Miller, who served as spokesperson for Mr Trump’s 2016 campaign and a senior adviser to his failed 2020 bid, told the New York Post about Mr Trump’s vice presidential pick
