Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.,” declared on Monday night that he is halting his presidential campaign. Expressing disappointment at not achieving the desired outcome, Ramaswamy, who aimed for a “solid second or third” position in the Iowa caucuses, ultimately secured a fourth-place finish. He has formally endorsed former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.
Ramaswamy, known for promoting “America First” policies, emphasized the importance of reviving national identity during his campaign. Proposing substantial policy changes, including a drastic reduction in the Federal Reserve workforce, the deportation of American-born children of undocumented immigrants, and raising the voting age to 25, he aimed to address the evolving meaning of being an American.
While aligning with the “anti-woke” movement, Ramaswamy’s campaign also faced criticism for endorsing conspiracy theories, such as claiming the Jan. 6 Capitol attack was an “inside job,” alleging the 2020 election was stolen, and associating the “Great Replacement theory” with the Democratic Party’s platform. His persona drew further scrutiny during a GOP debate when former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley criticized him, calling him “Scum” for comments on her parenting and mentioning her daughter. Additionally, Haley questioned his foreign policy stance, citing his lack of experience in the field.
Ramaswamy, at 38, was the youngest Republican candidate, leveraging his popularity as a New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur. Despite historical achievements, like visiting all of Iowa’s 99 counties twice, he garnered approximately 7.7% support from caucusgoers, leading to the suspension of his campaign. Former President Trump, in a Truth Social post, discouraged support for Ramaswamy, emphasizing that a vote for him was a vote for the “other side.” Ramaswamy’s campaign, marked by parallels with Trump’s approach, focused heavily on defending Trump’s legacy, culminating in a plea to voters to nominate him for the Republican Party.
