Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday vented his anger at a reporter who asked if he condemned “white supremacy and white nationalism.”
The 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur shared with reporters his position that white supremacy is not to blame. However, he explained that “affirmative action” has instead caused many conflicts and racial tensions within the country.
“Of course, I condemn any kind of vicious racism in this country. But the presumption in your question is based on a fundamental falsehood, and it shows that the racism we actually see in this country today I think that's the main form.” told a Washington Post reporter During a campaign event in Scott County, Iowa.
“Institutionalized racism is institutionalized racism that we recognize does not result from discriminating against people in any way based on provisional white supremacy. . It's based on affirmative action. It's based on actually discriminating against people on the basis of their skin color in a way that is actually institutionalized today,” Ramaswamy added.
Ramaswamy acknowledged that “vicious forms of anti-Black or anti-brown racism” did exist in the U.S. in the past, but said, “Let's look in the rearview mirror … and raise an issue that is so far removed today. '', he scolded reporters. What is the reality? ”
“Frankly, I think the American people have completely lost trust in the mainstream media because of that kind of questioning and framing,” he continued.
Then a Washington Post reporter intervened and told the Republican candidate, “You never said you condemn white supremacy.”
Mr Ramaswamy responded by saying, “I am not going to recite the catechism for you,'' and reiterated that “I am against the vicious racism in this country.''
“I have no allegiance to your new religion, modern wokeism,” the increasingly agitated White House hopeful continued, accusing reporters of asking “stupid questions.” did.
“Do you want to know what is the best way to end discrimination based on race? Stop discriminating based on race. Then we can move this country forward,” Ramaswamy argued. did.
The reporter's question stemmed from controversial former Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King's endorsement of Ramaswamy on Tuesday.
King, who served in the House of Representatives for 18 years, was stripped of his committee assignments over comments he made to lawmakers and lost a primary election to Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra in June 2020. both sides of the aisle considered offensive and racist.
“White supremacist, white supremacist, Western civilization, how did that word become so offensive?” King, 74, told the New York Times in January 2019.
He later issued a statement denying “these labels and the evil ideology they define.”
