Vivek Ramaswamy does not view his Hindu faith as impediment: Report

Indian American Republican presidential contender vows to further Trump agenda without insanity

Vivek Ramaswamy does not see his Hindu faith, passed down to him from his Indian-born parents, as an impediment in his presidential run in a Republican Party steeped in Judeo-Christian values, according to a media report.

In fact, the 37-year-old Indian American biotech millionaire, who in some polls is running as high as third place in the crowded Republican Party contest, sees “a heck of a lot in common” in the religions, according to the Washington Times.

READ: We need an outsider in the White House: Vivek Ramaswamy (July 11, 2023)

“I’m a Hindu, and I raised my kids in the same tradition, but we share the same Judeo-Christian values that this nation was founded on,” Ramaswamy said in an interview with editors and reporters at The Times Wednesday.

“Part of the reason I’m able to stand for religious liberty and the revival of faith as clearly and unapologetically as I have is perhaps because I am a member of a younger generation.”

From his perspective, Ramaswamy sees a new focus on Judeo-Christian values filling a gaping void in people’s lives and making them less susceptible to the liberal woke agenda that he said is poisoning the nation.

Asked about the overlap between Christianity and Hinduism, Ramaswamy said his faith teaches him the importance of the nuclear family as well as sacrifice and civil duty.

“These are ideals that are deeply woven into my own faith-based tradition, my own family upbringing of sacrifice, doing your duty, the belief that God put us here for a reason,” he said. “It is our job to carry out God’s plan, whatever.”

On the campaign trail, Ramaswamy, the married father of two and youngest candidate in the race, is making the case that there is a deep craving across the country, particularly among younger generations, to have something “bigger than themselves to believe in.”

READ: Vivek Ramaswamy embraces American nationalist identity for 2024 race (June 7, 2023)

He told the Times, he is optimistic that he can win over members of faith-based communities because he is honest about his spirituality and he plans to set a moral example for the next generation of leaders.

“The standard I want to be held to is that I want to lead this country and even live my life, as a parent, as a father and as a president, [so] that parents, including Christian parents, across this country can look their kids in the eye and tell them in good conscience that I want you to grow up and be like him,” he said. “It’s not a bargain.

“Yes, we’ll get the good judicial appointments, right, we’ll stand for religious liberty, but it’s not a deal. Because it’s who I am, who we are,” he said. “And so far, I think that people are incredibly open to that.”

Ramaswamy also claims he is a better candidate than former President Donald Trump because the American electorate is hankering for a revolutionary leader who doesn’t drive them insane.

He boasts that he is better positioned than anyone else to build on Trump’s successes and carry forward the “positive essence” of the Make America Great Again movement, according to the Times.

“It requires combining that outsider, successful executive experience with something else that rarely coincides with that, which is a deep understanding of the Constitution and the laws of this country,” Ramaswamy was quoted as saying.

READ: Vivek Ramaswamy wants to raise the voting age to 25 (May 12, 2023)

“I think I am the single candidate in the last 30 years who has the deepest understanding … of how to actually shut down the administrative state and the federal bureaucracy.”

He spoke of creating a “national revival” to deliver on the conservative dream of dismantling federal bureaucracies that “suck the lifeblood out of our constitutional republic.”

The 37-year-old biotech millionaire told The Times, he can make more headway with the “America First” agenda than Trump because the former president makes roughly a third of the country “psychiatrically ill when he speaks.”

“The things that they otherwise would have agreed with, they vehemently disagree with because he said it,” Ramaswamy was quoted as saying.

Ramaswamy said Trump had the necessary executive experience as a businessman but lacked the constitutional expertise needed to understand the entire scope of his powers as president.

READ: Vivek Ramaswamy: from suspected vanity campaigner to a contender (May 10, 2023)

As a result, he said, Trump proved to be more of a reformer than a revolutionary.

“Do you believe in reform, or do you believe in revolution?” Ramaswamy said. “I’m the candidate, I think the sole candidate, who is actually unapologetically on the side of revolution. I think that is the only way forward.”

READ MORE ON RAMASWAMY:

Vivek Ramaswamy enters Republican race for White House (February 22, 2023)

Vivek Ramaswamy exploring 2024 presidential run (February 14, 2023)

Indian American Vivek Ramaswamy raises $1.1 billion for Roivant Sciences (August 11, 2017)

Axovant Sciences founded by Indian American Vivek Ramaswamy has biggest US biotech IPO (June 12, 2015)