Vivek Ramaswamy suspends campaign, endorses Trump

Back in Trump’s good books, Indian American entrepreneur to attend his rally in New Hampshire on Jan. 16

After a disappointing showing in the Iowa Republican caucuses, Indian American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed former President Donald Trump winnowing down the Republican field to just three.

“As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign,” Ramaswamy told supporters in Iowa on Monday night.

READ: Ramaswamy vows to pardon Trump if elected in 2024 (June 9, 2023)

“As I’ve said since the beginning, there are two America First candidates in this race. And earlier tonight I called Donald Trump to tell him that I — congratulate him on his victory, and now going forward, you will have my full endorsement for the presidency,” Ramaswamy said later, while one of his attendees interjected during his remarks “don’t do it!”

Ramaswamy’s exit comes not long after former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie (R) announced he was dropping his White House bid. Late last year, Sen Tim Scott (R-SC) and former Vice President Mike Pence also quit the race.

Ramaswamy, the first Republican millennial to seek the presidential nomination, was initially seen as a longshot candidate with little name recognition when he launched in February 2023.

READ: Vivek Ramaswamy vows to end birthright citizenship for kids of illegals (September 29, 2023)

Though he showed modest signs of momentum during the primary, he was unable to achieve momentum in the race against not only Trump, but also the remaining two candidates — fellow Indian American Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Accompanied by his surgeon wife Apoorva, who looked visibly disappointed, Ramaswamy told his supporters that he is dropping out of the race because they “did not achieve the surprise they wanted to deliver tonight.”

He said he called Trump to congratulate him on his victory and would attend a rally with him in New Hampshire on Jan 16.

Ramaswamy entered the 2024 race with no prior political experience. Founder of the biotech firm Roivant Sciences and author of the book “Woke Inc,” he funded most of his campaign from his fortunes. Right from the start, he aligned with Trump, and repeatedly praised him.

According to Axios, he “emerged as a lightning rod during the GOP presidential debates, aggressively attacking his rivals and engaging in combative, sometimes personal, criticisms.”

He also vowed to support Trump, even if he was convicted of felonies, promising to pardon him if elected to the White House. At one point he announced that he would voluntarily remove his name from the ballot in states that succeeded in knocking Trump from the ballot.

When he started fading in polls in Iowa, he increasingly embraced fringe theories and far-right claims in the Hawkeye State.

The Washington Post noted that like former Iowa Rep Steve King who endorsed Ramaswamy, he has “increasingly embraced extreme ideas, far-right individuals and causes, and debunked conspiracy theories.” Over the months, he gainedsupport from far-right and white supremacist figures as well.

Meanwhile, after months of warmth toward Ramaswamy, Trump’s campaign turned on him two days before the Iowa caucuses. Calling him a fraud, the former president asked voters to reject Ramaswamy.

However, in a speech after his win in Iowa, Trump mentioned Ramaswamy and congratulated him for “doing a helluva job.” He said his former rival “came from zero” and got “almost” 8% in Iowa, which is an “amazing job.”