Former President Donald Trump appears poised to bring businessman and former rival Vivek Ramaswamy into the campaign after Ramaswamy endorsed Trump on Tuesday night.
Ramaswamy joined Trump a day after he dropped out of the race to publicly urge voters at a rally in Atkinson to support the former president in next week's New Hampshire primary.
After Ramaswamy vowed in November to help him defeat President Joe Biden, Trump appeared to suggest that the tech entrepreneur could do a lot for his campaign.
“He will work with us and he will work with us for a long time,” Trump said, as many in the crowd chanted for Ramaswamy to be the vice presidential nominee.
Trump – who turned somewhat against Ramaswamy in the days leading up to the caucuses – spoke about how impressive the first-time campaigner had been.
Former President Donald Trump appears poised to bring businessman and former rival Vivek Ramaswamy into the campaign after Ramaswamy endorsed Trump on Tuesday night
“He’s a fantastic guy,” Trump said. “He has something very special because he started with a Zippo and ended up being very strong.”
“He did a great job. I was actually surprised when he called because he was fine. And it’s an honor to have his support,” Trump added.
Ramaswamy appeared on Fox News on Tuesday night and after calling on Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, he said he served at the former president's pleasure.
“I want to serve this country in any way I can,” he said when asked by Jesse Watters if he would run for vice president.
Ramaswamy, 38, a charismatic multimillionaire, came a distant fourth in the Iowa caucuses, the country's first contest of 2024, behind Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
The fast-talking biotech businessman told his shocked supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday night: “I think it's true that we didn't manage to deliver the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight.”
“Effective immediately, we are suspending this presidential campaign… there is no way for me to become the next president without things that we don't want to see in this country.”
Ramaswamy called Trump earlier in the evening – and supported the former president, saying an “America First” candidate must be the one to win the White House.
After Ramaswamy vowed in November to help him defeat President Joe Biden, Trump appeared to suggest that the tech entrepreneur could do a lot for his campaign
Ramaswamy joined Trump a day after he dropped out of the race to publicly urge voters at a rally in Atkinson to support the former president in next week's New Hampshire primary
Ramaswamy appeared on Fox News on Tuesday night and after calling on Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, he said he served at the former president's pleasure
Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to his supporters as he stands with his wife Apoorva Tewari and son Karthik at his vigil party in Iowa after suspending his campaign and defeating former US President Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa, USA , supported on January 15, 2024
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is dropping out of the 2024 race after disappointing results in the Iowa caucuses
Vivek Ramaswamy finished a disappointing fourth place with less than 8 percent of the Iowa caucus vote. The result prompted the entrepreneur to drop out and support former President Donald Trump, who was ahead with 51 percent support
“Tonight I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory. “And now, going forward, he will have my full support for the presidency,” Ramaswamy said.
Ramaswamy spent the final hours of his campaign denouncing the media for removing him from the race.
In a post on XRamaswamy shared a Fox News/Associated Press poll that gave respondents only three Republican candidates to choose from — Trump, Haley and DeSantis.
“Manipulated,” Ramaswamy wrote late Monday afternoon. “Fox & AP just aired a comprehensive voter attitudes survey on the eve of the caucus, which they will be covering on television immediately before the Iowa caucus. This will remove a candidate from the list.'
Ramaswamy's spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin also accused The New York Times of listing only Trump, Haley and DeSantis on the paper's Iowa caucus results landing page.
When netizens clicked on the full list of candidates, Ramaswamy's name appeared there.
“Stay with the media and shock the world tonight at the Iowa caucus,” Ramaswamy encouraged his followers in the Hawkeye State in his post on X.
Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy hugs a supporter at his vigil party in Iowa after suspending his campaign and endorsing former U.S. President Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 15, 2024
Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy waves as he speaks to his supporters while standing with his wife Apoorva Tewari and son Karthik at his watch party in Iowa after campaigning in Des Moines, Iowa, USA on January 15 suspended and supported former US President Donald Trump, 2024
But with 95 percent of the votes, Ramaswamy had secured only 7.7 percent of the votes.
Ramaswamy brought conservative, millennial energy to the Republican race by rapping for Eminem at the Iowa State Fair and slamming anyone he deemed too “woke.”
Throughout his term, he praised Trump but told voters that he represented a next-generation choice for the MAGA movement.
He also had several memorable debate moments, generally directing his anger at Haley and even writing “Nikki = Corrupt” on a notepad and showing it to the audience during the Tuscaloosa showdown in December.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who dropped out of the race on Wednesday, called Ramaswamy “the most disgusting blowhard in America” for his antics.
In the days leading up to the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy faced surprising criticism from Trump.
The former president warned his supporters not to “waste” their vote on Ramaswamy, even if they liked his message and Trump was far ahead in the polls.
Signs supporting Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis are displayed at a caucus site at the Horizon Event Center on January 15, 2024 in Clive, Iowa , USA, issued
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, his wife Apoorva Tewari Ramaswamy, an assistant professor and surgeon at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and their two children.
National Campaign Coalition Director Esther Joy gestures as Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy greets his wife Apoorva Ramaswamy during his campaign visit to Lion Bridge Brewing Company ahead of the caucus vote in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, March 15. January 2024 kisses
A man clears snow from a sidewalk next to the campaign bus of Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as he prepared to speak at a pre-caucus campaign rally at Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Ankeny, Iowa, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024
“A vote for Vivek is a wasted vote.” “I like VIVEK, but he played it too cute for us,” Trump wrote Monday morning.
“CAUCUS TONIGHT, VOTE FOR DONALD J. TRUMP, BUILD THE NUMBERS!!!” IN NOVEMBER, WE MUST REMOVE OUR VERY DIFFICULT NATION – A NATION IN DOWN – FROM THE CROWD JOE BIDEN AND THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS AND BEATS THAT DESTROY THEM, TAKE THEM BACK. MAGA!!!' added the ex-president.
On Monday evening, Trump praised Ramaswamy during his victory celebration.
“I also want to congratulate Vivek because he did a great job.” “He came from zero… that's a great job,” Trump said.
Trump later praised Ramaswamy for his support on Truth Social.
“Thank you Vivek, a great honor!” said the ex-president and top candidate for 2024.