In the realm of Washington’s political landscape, Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American luminary in the biotech sector turned political figure, finds himself amidst the considerations for the esteemed position of running mate by the former President and prominent Republican candidate, Donald Trump, in the upcoming 2024 presidential elections.
During an insightful Fox News town hall event this Tuesday, the host delved into the potential vice-presidential candidates, prompting Trump to expound on six notable individuals. Among them were South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, the enigmatic Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Representative Byron Donalds, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, as reported by Politico.com.
In his response, Trump, a seasoned 77-year-old, omitted the mention of another Indian-American political contender, Nikky Haley, who remains an active participant in the race. It’s noteworthy that Ramaswamy, aged 38, gracefully withdrew as a Republican presidential contender following a lackluster performance in the Iowa caucuses in mid-January. Notably, he not only withdrew but also threw his support behind the triumphant Trump.
When queried by the Fox News host Laura Ingraham about the inclusion of all these figures on his shortlist, Trump affirmed, “They are. Honestly, all of those people are good. They’re all good, they’re all solid.” Interestingly, back in August 2023, Ramaswamy had subtly alluded to the possibility of being Trump’s running mate in the event he did not secure the Republican nomination.
In the later hours of Tuesday, observations arose concerning Trump’s propensity for unscripted remarks, leading to speculation about the likelihood of DeSantis being chosen. The report highlighted the history of animosity between Trump and DeSantis, culminating in DeSantis withdrawing from the presidential race following a lackluster second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Despite the past animosity, DeSantis has since endorsed Trump.
Trump’s refraining from derogatory remarks and the retirement of the moniker ‘DeSanctimonious’ attributed to the governor further added to the intrigue. However, during the Town Hall, Trump singled out Tim Scott for considerable praise, stating, “Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself.”
In contrast, the 52-year-old Haley remains undeterred, steadfastly refusing to exit the party’s race to the White House, despite the uphill battle she faces in her home state of South Carolina, where Trump commands a substantial lead following the primary this weekend.