Former President Trump has already hinted that his former Republican rival, Vivek Ramaswamy, may play a role on his team during Monday's Iowa caucuses followed by Tuesday's New Hampshire caucuses.
Just one day after canceling his presidential campaign, Ramaswamy appeared with Trump at Atkinson to express his full support for the Republican front-runner.
As Ramaswamy finished his comments, several Trump supporters could be heard shouting “Beep!”
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“Wow! How was that? Pretty good, right?” President Trump responded to Ramaswamy's remarks. “He's a great guy. He's got something very special because he started with Zippo and ended up getting very strong. He's done a great job. I'm glad he's doing well. So I was actually surprised when he called me and I'm honored to have his support.'' ”
“He's going to work with us and he's going to work with us for a long time,” Trump added, before cheers from the crowd.
American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican presidential candidate, supports former US President Donald Trump during an election event at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club in Atkinson, New Hampshire, January 16, 2024. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
The biotech entrepreneur himself responded to the comments on social media, writing, “America first. One movement. Indivisible.”
It's unclear whether Trump was hinting at Ramaswamy's possible position in the presidential race or referring to a hypothetical Trump administration.
Asked by Fox News' Jesse Watters after the rally if he intended to serve as vice president, Ramaswamy replied, “I want to serve this country in any way I can.”
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Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswami speaks at the caucus venue at the Horizon Event Center in Clive, Iowa, Monday, January 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Ramaswamy endorsed Trump after disappointing turnout in the Iowa caucuses, but the former president shattered his record in a contested primary with 51% support, winning about 8% of the vote. He finished in 4th place.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley came in second and third with 21% and 19% of the vote, respectively, and both are campaigning in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Ramaswamy has urged both men to withdraw from the race and rally behind Trump in the general election.
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As President Trump alluded to at the rally, Ramaswamy entered the race with virtually no name recognition, joining former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence and others. He outperformed several big-name Republicans.
The Iowa caucuses didn't go as planned, but it wasn't for a lack of effort on Mr. Ramaswamy's part. His campaign has touted that he has completed “Full Grasshopper” twice, meaning he has visited at least all 99 counties in Iowa. Two degrees. And he held more campaign events than any other candidate running in the Hawkeye State.
