In a surprising turn of events, Vivek Ramaswamy, the accomplished former biotech executive and multi-millionaire, has officially concluded his White House bid. On Monday (January 15), the 38-year-old Ohio native, born to immigrant parents from southern India, announced the end of his longshot campaign, marked by a staunch allegiance to former President Donald Trump.
Despite capturing attention in the 2024 Republican race, Ramaswamy’s bid faced a setback in Iowa’s nominating contest. A charismatic and pugnacious figure, Ramaswamy’s endorsement of Trump and his unwavering defense of the former president showcased his potential influence within the Republican Party.
However, the unexpected twist came as Trump, in the eleventh hour, publicly denounced Ramaswamy, labeling him a “fraud” and cautioning against supporting him as a vote for the “other side.” This development adds an intriguing layer to the dynamics of the Republican primary landscape.
Iowa caucuses results
In the preliminary outcomes of the Iowa caucuses, Vivek Ramaswamy secured the fourth position, garnering approximately 7.7% of the votes.
The Harvard-educated figure gained prominence within right-wing circles following the success of his 2021 bestseller, “Woke, Inc.,” which critiques corporate strategies aligning with social justice and climate change issues.
Despite initial attention sparked by his confrontational debate style and intense focus on media, particularly social media, Ramaswamy faced a decline in voter appeal as autumn unfolded. By the close of 2023, his national opinion polling numbers among potential Republican primary voters remained stagnant in the low single digits.
Ramaswamy’s fellow Republican candidates often appeared irritated with the newcomer in debates, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley telling him during one contentious encounter: “Every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber.”
Support from libertarian crowds
However, he gained some support, or at least interest, among libertarian crowds and the tech world. They included Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk, whom Ramaswamy confirmed to Reuters had attended a fundraiser for him in the autumn.
Ramaswamy says he was a libertarian while studying but has staked out some deeply conservative policy positions.
On the campaign trail, he opposed affirmative action and supported state-level bans on abortion after six weeks and said he wanted to greatly expand the powers of the presidency and dismantle much of the federal government, including the FBI and the Department of Education.
Ramaswamy was also reflective of a growing isolationist movement in the Republican Party, once made up of staunch foreign policy hawks. He opposed NATO membership for Ukraine and said Kyiv should make concessions to Russia to end the war, including allowing it to retain parts of Ukraine it occupies.
(With inputs from agencies)