Vivek Ramaswamy embraces American nationalist identity for 2024 race

Indian American Republican presidential aspirant says the nation is at a “1776 moment” without a proven leader in place to navigate it

Vivek Ramaswamy, Indian American Republican aspirant for the 2024 presidential race differentiates himself from other candidates in a crowded Republican field saying embracing American nationalist identity will be his campaign’s north star.

“I think of myself as more of the unapologetic nationalist in this race,” Ramaswamy was quoted as saying during his opening remarks for an on-the-record conversation with editors and reporters of Politico on Monday.

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

Ramaswamy, 37, predicted that it will take a landslide election, like Ronald Regan’s victory in 1984, to unite the country. He added that embracing American nationalist identity will be his campaign’s north star.

“I think we need to move and graduate beyond where I feel like we’ve been mired for the last 10 to 20 years celebrating and sometimes fighting and obsessing either way over our skin-deep diversity and differences,” he said.

“Call me a non-white nationalist, if you want,” he said though later he tried to walk back the non-white descriptor a touch by saying it was “tongue in cheek” — but said it is an optimistic view.

“Why do I call myself an American nationalist? I am proud of that. I will not apologize for it. And I want to revive that.”

He told Politico the nation is at a “1776 moment” in which the United States must collectively decide if it will “embrace the radicalism of the ideals that actually unite us” or allow that window to close.

He hinted that the nation is much closer to peril without a proven leader in place to help navigate the country through this dark period.

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

He praised America’s ideals of rule of law and self-governance. But when reminded the country was also built on the practice of slavery, he said, “Is America hypocritical? Yes.”

Ramaswamy asked why China or Iran or Pakistan are never called to task for being hypocritical nations.

“I will be … among the first to admit our hypocrisy,” he said. “I think it’s our best evidence of the fact that we are a nation founded on ideals. And most nations are founded on ethnicity, monarch, language, religion — not America.”

When asked about embracing such a word when the Republican Party is already seen by many as embracing white nationalism, he admitted this posture may initially alienate some voters.

“Do I have a consciousness that in the short run, that’s going to make some people uncomfortable? Absolutely.”

He said that Americans must learn to recalibrate and get “comfortable with that discomfort, so we can be stronger on the other side of it.”

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

Ramaswamy, whose book titles include “Woke Inc,” and “Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence,” and fellow Indian American former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are part of a growing diverse Republican field.

Ramswamy took credit for the “intellectual work” of the anti-woke strain —a catch-all phrase to describe culture war battles over diversity, equity and inclusion in the party.

However, he said, “It’s never a mantle I’ve particularly embraced but been described as a candidate in the potential emerging anti-woke lane — that’s too small.”

Ramaswamy largely stayed away from criticizing former President Donald Trump, though he alluded to him as being passé. Trump, Ramaswamy said, leans too much into a “retrospective grievance” that played once well with the electorate, but no longer does today.

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