Former President Trump attacked Republican challenger Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of the start of the Iowa caucuses on Monday, saying votes for the entrepreneur would be wasted.
Mr. Ramaswamy had largely avoided attacks by the former president until the Iowa caucuses began, but Mr. Trump and his campaign have changed their tune in recent days. “Truth Social” in all caps post On Monday, the former president urged Iowa voters to caucus for him instead of Mr. Ramaswamy.
“A vote for Vivek is a wasted vote. I like Vivek, but he played too 'cute' with us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Caucus tonight, vote for Donald J. Trump and increase your numbers!!!” In November, we left a very troubled country – a country in decline – with a bunch of crooked Joes. -We have to take it back from Biden and the radical left Democrats and thugs who are destroying it. MAGA!!!” Trump added.
Ramaswamy has rarely taken any aggressive stance against Trump, repeatedly defending the former president throughout the campaign. The entrepreneur also vowed to remove himself from Colorado's ballot after the state's Supreme Court ruled Trump off the ballot last month under the 14th Amendment.
In a social media post on Friday, President Trump slammed Ramaswamy, calling him “not a MAGA” and a “fraud.”
“Mr. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter and as the 'best president of all time,'” Trump said. post Friday. “Unfortunately, all he is doing now is disguising his support in the form of deceptive campaign tricks. Very cunning, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side'. It's a vote, don't be fooled by this. ”
Ramaswami responded to this first attack. on X, previously on Twitter, emphasized his past support for Trump and said he had no intention of exchanging attacks with the former president. Ramaswamy added that he has “confronted the persecution of Trump” and “protected him every step of the way.”
“Yes, I saw President Trump's Truth Social post. This is a disappointing move by his campaign staff, and I don't think friendly fire will help. Donald Trump is the greatest president of the 21st century. , I am not criticizing him for this belated attack,'' Ramaswamy wrote.
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis also weighed in on Trump's targeting of Ramaswamy, telling reporters that Trump “threw him under the bus.”
“You know, I've never seen one candidate run for office and basically campaign for another candidate in the same race, but that's what happened. But the moment he wasn't helpful, they put the hammer down on it. So it's kind of the way it is, the way they do it,” DeSantis said in a video clip he shared. CNN's Kit Maher talks about Xspoke about President Trump's criticism of Ramaswamy.
The Hill has reached out to Ramaswamy's campaign for comment on President Trump's recent comments.
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