Republican presidential nominee and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy officially dropped out of the race on Monday.
“As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign,” says the Ohio biotech company owner in front of reporters and supporters.
“We did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight,” Ramaswamy added.
In October, he predicted that he would finish the Iowa caucuses in “second or third” position, however, he only came in fourth, while former President Donald Trump dominated.
After his declaration, Ramaswamy expressed full support for Trump’s candidacy for the White House.
“I’ve said since the beginning, there are two America First candidates in this race. And earlier tonight, I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory and that now going forward he will have my full endorsement for the presidency,” said the entrepreneur.
Ramaswamy gained popularity when he joined the contest in February 2023, his consistent stance to promote “America First” policies made him popular among the conservatives.
“To put America first, we need to rediscover what America is. That’s why I am running for president,” wrote Ramaswamy, announcing his intent to contend for Republican primaries.
“I am launching not only a political campaign but a cultural movement to create a new American Dream — one that is not only about money but about the unapologetic pursuit of excellence.”
In an interview with NPR on May 2023, Ramaswamy said, he is not a disciple of Trump and that “America First” is bigger than Trump.
His campaign focused, according to Ramaswamy, on regaining America’s sense of national identity.
“I’m looking at a need in our country and a job that needs to be done that I see very few people stepping up to actually deliver, which is to answer what it even means to be an American today — to revive our missing national identity, especially in the next generation of Americans.”
Among his policies were reducing the Federal Reserve workforce by at least 90 percent, deporting American-born children with parents who are undocumented, and raising the voting age to 25.
He also supported the call to free imprisoned January 6 demonstrators and demanded the FBI be held accountable for the violence that occurred at the US Capitol.
Ramaswamy also successfully placed himself on par with other candidates during presidential debates. He sparred with his rivals and was known for his outspoken views especially of Haley, whom he claims as “puppet” and an “agent for the deep state.”
