Vivek Ramaswamy announced Monday night that he is withdrawing from the 2024 Republican presidential race and supporting the former president following disappointing results in the Iowa caucuses. This is the latest announcement to narrow down the candidates for the primary election, with President Trump in the lead.
“At this time, I am canceling this presidential campaign,” Ramaswamy told supporters in Iowa on Monday night.
“As I've said from the beginning, we have two America First candidates in this election. And earlier tonight, I called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory and to thank you for your continued support.” I told them that I fully support the presidency,'' Ramaswamy later said, but one of the attendees interrupted him during his speech. Don't do that!
Ramaswamy's resignation comes shortly after former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced he was withdrawing his bid for the White House. Late last year, Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.) and former Vice President Pence also decided to withdraw from the race.
Ramaswamy, the first Republican millennial to seek the Republican presidential nomination, had little name recognition and was seen as a strong candidate when he first started running in February 2023. He was unable to build momentum in the primary, although he showed modest signs of momentum in the primary. In addition to President Trump, he is competing against other candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
His foreign policy stances, particularly toward Israel and Taiwan, along with his lack of political experience, earned him enthusiasm from some rivals.
If elected, Ramaswamy said he would negotiate an “Abraham Accords 2.0” that would integrate Israel with the rest of the Middle East so that no additional aid is needed after 2028.
Regarding Taiwan, the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur said he would defend the island until 2028, when the United States achieves semiconductor independence, adding: “After that, our commitment to Taiwan, our commitment to be willing to engage in military conflict. will be protected,” he said. Because it is rationally in our interest. ”
But he has since appeared to change course, telling NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell that he will “resume a position of strategic ambiguity” starting in 2028.
“You have no foreign policy experience and it shows,” Haley attacked Ramaswamy in the first Republican debate.
Ramaswamy has also particularly supported Trump during his candidacy, at one point promising to pardon the former president for federal charges he faced over his handling of classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. He circulated a pledge urging other 2024 rivals to do so.
But Trump attacked Ramaswamy in the final days before the Iowa caucuses, warning his supporters not to vote for him.
Mr. Ramaswamy's resignation underscores Mr. Trump's enduring strength in the primaries more broadly, as he continues to lead his challengers by a wide margin in national and local polls. Mr. Ramaswamy's candidacy as a candidate aligned with Mr. Trump ultimately did little to sway voters, including some of the former president's most devoted supporters.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
