Vivek Ramaswamy responded to Donald Trump's scathing personal attack, saying he didn't mean to return comments with “friendly fire” or criticize the former president, but urged voters to “open their eyes.” ” he warned.
“Yes, I saw President Trump's Truth social post. This is a disappointing action by his campaign advisers and I don't think friendly fire will help,” Ramaswamy wrote in an X post late Saturday. .
“Donald Trump was the greatest president of the 21st century, and I do not criticize him for this belated attack,” the biotech billionaire continued.
President Trump says Vivek Ramaswamy is 'not MAGA' in fierce attack ahead of Iowa caucuses: 'Don't be fooled'
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court supporting former President Donald Trump's efforts to stay on the state's ballot. (Getty Images)
The “America First” campaigner, who has long admired the former president, defended the president's accusations that he was “not a MAGA” and claimed that Trump “protected him every step of the way.”
“I'm worried about Trump. I'm worried about our country. I've stood up to the persecution of Trump and defended him every step of the way,” Ramaswamy said.
“I appeared in a Miami courthouse united in response to his first federal indictment. I filed a FOIA request with the Biden Justice Department. I filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court this week and filed a We asked that the verdict be overturned,” Ramaswamy continued. “I have pledged to remove myself from the primary ballot if Maine and Colorado remove Mr. Trump, and I have asked Ms. DeSantis and Ms. Haley to do the same.”
Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during a campaign event at the National Czech Center. The Slovak Museum and the Slovak Museum accept payments using the above credit cards. January 11, 2024, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Library. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event at the Thunder Bay Grill on January 13, 2024 in Davenport, Iowa. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Ramaswamy went on to call presidential candidate Nikki Haley a “puppet” of the left and urged voters to “open their eyes.”
“But we must open our eyes. Last time it was a man-made pandemic and Big Tech election interference,” he wrote.
Haley on DeSantis heads to South Carolina before New Hampshire: 'No need to jump state'
“Now the same billionaires who are funding the lawsuits against Trump are propping up Nikki Haley. The same MSM who are denouncing Trump are lavishing praise on Nikki,” Ramaswamy said. said. “They want to narrow this down to a two-horse race between Trump and Haley, get rid of Trump (somehow) and put their puppet in the White House.”
“We shouldn't fall into that trap. A year from now, we're not going to look back and say we were shocked that something like that happened. We're going to blame ourselves for not being able to stop it,” he said.
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump prepares to hold a “telephone rally” at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 13, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Republican presidential candidate concluded his response by claiming that his “America First” movement didn't start in 2016, but in 1776.
“Our movement must stay alive. America First didn't start in 2016. It started in 1776,” Ramaswamy said. “We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do what's right for this country. I want to save Trump and I want to save this country. Let's do it together.”
“You won't hear any friendly fire from me,” he said.
The long-awaited final poll ahead of the Iowa caucuses shows Trump in first place, Haley in second place and DeSantis in third place.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ramaswamy's campaign spoke about the possibility of Trump being removed from the presidential ballot.
“Just because it's wrong doesn't mean it won't happen, and we have an obligation to advance America First,” Ramaswamy's campaign said.
Vivek Ramaswamy, chairman and co-founder of Strive Asset Management and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, speaks at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, Wednesday, January 3, 2024. (Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ramaswamy's lengthy statement came after Trump and his team launched a direct public attack on the pharmaceutical entrepreneur.
“Mr. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the greatest president of all time,' etc.,” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social Saturday night. “Unfortunately, all he's doing now is disguising his support in the form of deception in his campaign. It's very cunning.”
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President Trump said Vivek was “not MAGA” and urged his supporters not to “fall for it.”
“A vote for Vivek is a vote for 'the other side'. Don't be fooled by this. Vote for 'Trump'.” former president Said. “Don't waste your vote. Vivek is not MAGA.”
Nikki Haley's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital's Election Hub.
