Fox Host Attacks Vivek Ramaswamy After He Receives Post-Debate Campaign Surge

Following the first GOP primary debate, Vivek Ramaswamy appeared on Fox and Friends during which he was repeatedly grilled by host Brian Kilmeade on the question of Ukraine and other topics related to foreign policy. In the 24 hours after the first debate, Ramaswamy’s campaign had received more than $1 million in contributions.

Kilmeade started his attack by replaying a clip from former ambassador and 2024 Republican candidate Nikki Haley, who had been on the network an hour earlier. Hailey criticized Vivek’s comment during the debate that Americans have to choose between protecting the border or aiding Ukraine. “We do it all, we do it all, to make sure we keep Americans safe,” she said.

After arguing that the Biden administration’s current approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict is driving Russia into the arms of China, an alliance he said we should seek to prevent, Kilmeade fired back: “But they invaded Ukraine, Vivek! They invaded Ukraine. Just give them 20% of the country?”

Kilmeade repeated his comments after Vivek tried to defend his position. Vivek said he would strategically lay off the Ukraine War while pressuring Russia to stay away from China. His method would be to re-open an economic relationship with Russia while preventing Ukraine from being admitted into NATO, likening it to President Richard Nixon’s strategy with Mao Zedong.

In response, Kilmeade tried to claim that the Russian army was being “deconstructed before our eyes without any American blood,” praising the establishment’s approach by comparing it to the Cold War. Vivek was not having it, saying the current Cold War is with China, not Russia, and America should adjust its foreign policy approach accordingly by switching its target from Russia to China.

“And unlike the USSR, we now depend on Communist China for our modern way life. If that had been a Russian spy balloon, flying over half the United States, we would’ve shot it down in an instant and ratcheted up sanctions. But because it was a Chinese spy balloon we’re scared so we didn’t do it,” Vivek said. He went on to say that he would defend Taiwan, “at least until we have semi-conductor independence.”

Just like Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis’s campaign also received over $1 million during the same 24 hour window.

According to Five Thirty Eight’s Aug. 25 averaging of the national polls, the pair are the leading contenders in the GOP field—with DeSantis at 14.7% and Ramaswamy at 9.9%—besides former President Donald Trump, who remains far ahead at 52.0%.