Republican Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of 2024 presidential race
Vivek Ramaswamy, a multi-millionaire biotech executive, ended his White House bid on Monday, endorsing Donald Trump after his longshot bid failed to gain enough attention in the Republican Party’s first nominating contest in Iowa.
“There is no path for me to be the President absent things that we don’t want to see happen in this country. I am very worried for this country,” Ramaswamy told supporters in Des Moines.
He added that Trump “will have my full endorsement for the presidency.”
Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old born in Ohio to immigrant parents from southern India, was one of the surprises in the 2024 Republican race which has been dominated by former president Trump.
The staunch Trump supporter likely secured a spot in Republican politics in the future because of his youthful demeanour, deep pockets and pugnacious campaigning.
Trump turned against him in the final days before the Iowa caucus, labelling him a “fraud” and claiming a vote for Ramaswamy was a vote for the “other side.”
However, In his victory speech, Trump adopted a softer tone toward Ramaswamy, saying: “I also want to congratulate Vivek, because he did a hell of a job.”
Partial results for the Iowa caucuses showed Ramaswamy coming in fourth with around 7.7% of votes, according to Reuters.
Harvard-educated Ramaswamy gained fame in right-wing circles for his 2021 bestseller “Woke, Inc.”, which criticises big companies’ social justice and climate change strategies.
His debate performances and media focus earned him headlines but simultaneously put off some voters. By the end of 2023, his national opinion polling numbers with likely Republican primary voters were in the low single digits.
Ramaswamy, a new Republican candidate, faced criticism from fellow candidates, including former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who said: “Every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber.”
However, he gained support from libertarian crowds and the tech world, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who attended a fundraiser for him in the autumn. This support was reportedly influenced by Tesla’s CEO.