Vivek Ramaswamy withdraws from presidential race, backs Trump

 Political newcomer and Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced on Monday his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race, marking an end to his bid to disrupt the political landscape.

| Updated: 16 January, 2024 1:35 pm IST

NEW DELHI: Political newcomer and Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced on Monday his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race, marking an end to his bid to disrupt the political landscape. The 38-year-old, who aimed to challenge seasoned candidates, including former President Donald Trump, revealed that he would be throwing his support behind Trump.

After being projected to finish a distant fourth in the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy addressed his supporters, stating, “We are going to suspend this presidential campaign,” as reported by AFP. Reflecting on the election results, he acknowledged that his campaign did not achieve the mark he had hoped for.

During his campaign’s watch party in Des Moines Iowa, Ramaswamy shared, “I will stick to the truth tonight. The first hard truth… we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight,” as quoted by CNN. Expressing his respect for Trump’s victory, he revealed that he had called Donald Trump to congratulate him and would be extending his full endorsement for the presidency.

Looking ahead, Ramaswamy disclosed his plans to campaign for Trump in New Hampshire on Tuesday, leading up to the state’s primary next week. “Tomorrow we’re likely – I’m going to appear with Donald Trump at a rally in New Hampshire to lay out what I see and what we see for the future of the country,” he stated.

Ramaswamy, who initially launched his campaign in February 2023 as a relatively unknown former pharmaceutical executive, had set himself apart as the youngest candidate in the race. Throughout his campaign, he emphasised his youth and limited political background as essential components of his broader call for a fresh wave of leadership from a new generation.

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