Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his campaign late Monday night following a poorer-than-expected performance in the Iowa caucus. He endorsed Donald Trump on his way out, telling his followers that the billionaire real estate mogul has his full support. He reportedly plans to attend a rally in New Hampshire with Trump ahead of the next primary vote.
“We did not achieve our goal tonight & we need an America-First patriot in the White House,” Ramaswamy said. “The people spoke loud & clear about who they want. Tonight I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Donald J. Trump and will do everything I can to make sure he is the next U.S. President. I am enormously proud of this team, this movement, and our country.”
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“There’s no path for me to be the next president absent things that we don’t want to see happen in this country,” he said elsewhere. “I’m always going to speak my convictions. I’m not somebody that’s going to be able to speak anyone else’s convictions … If that’s a role I can perform from the vice presidency … I’m going to evaluate what’s best for the future of this country.”
This entire campaign is about speaking the TRUTH. We did not achieve our goal tonight & we need an America-First patriot in the White House. The people spoke loud & clear about who they want. Tonight I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Donald J. Trump and will do everything…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 16, 2024
Ramaswamy remarked that he was “a little surprised” by his Iowa results. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been, but I am,” he said. The 38-year-old billionaire had stumped non-stop in Iowa over the past few weeks, speaking to voters at diners, gyms, and churches converted into steakhouses.
The Harvard and Yale grad broke onto the main stage of American politics this election cycle, turning himself from a little-known pharmaceutical entrepreneur into a household name as he appeared on every podcast and talk show he could find. He fashioned himself as a younger, sharper Trump, ready to take on the “deep state” without any concern of offending establishment pieties.
BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his presidential campaign.
“Earlier tonight I called Donald Trump… and now going forward he will have my full endorsement for President."
pic.twitter.com/KiSPCpsdO0— PBD Podcast (@PBDsPodcast) January 16, 2024
Trump had mostly held his tongue about the young challenger, even complimenting him at a few points earlier in the race. But days before the Iowa caucuses, he put out two condemnatory posts on Truth Social.
However, when Ramaswamy dropped out, Trump posted a “thank you” and welcomed his endorsement. Vivek will likely be chosen for a role in Trump’s cabinet should he win in November, and it will in all probability remain a force in American politics in the decades to come.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics, economics, and culture for Valuetainment. Follow Shane on X (Twitter).
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