Former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack against the Republican candidate who supported him most throughout the campaign: the young businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
In a post on Truth social media, Trump stated that Ramaswamy had started the campaign as a good ally, but as the presidential race progressed, the businessman began to use tactics to attract votes using the former president's name.
"Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the best President in generations,' etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks," wrote Trump, who later asked voters not to vote for Ramaswamy.
Trump se desmarca de Vivek Ramaswamy, lo ataca y pide que nadie le dé su voto.
“Vivek no es MAGA”. pic.twitter.com/UiF34K4E9R
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) January 14, 2024
"Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side' - don't get duped by this. Vote for 'TRUMP,' don't waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA," stated the former president, who leads the polls in the primary elections two days before the caucus in Iowa begins.
Before the attack, Ramaswamy had posted a controversial photo with a group of young people wearing T-shirts with the message: "Save Trump. Vote Vivek."
A group of young men in Iowa came out in the blizzard. They sent a clear message. pic.twitter.com/SrVAeoHPey
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 13, 2024
The post caused strong discomfort among the former president's allies and Trump himself.
Ramaswamy responds to MAGA attack: "They want to eliminate Trump"
Although Trump questioned him voraciously, Ramaswamy did not do the same with the former president but instead explained his position on why he remained in the race despite the circumstances.
The businessman noted in one of his posts on X (Twitter) that he still thinks Trump was the best president of the United States so far this century.
Yes, I saw President Trump’s Truth Social post. It’s an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don’t think friendly fire is helpful. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack.
I’ve met…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 14, 2024
"Here's the hard truth, and nobody seems to want to acknowledge it, but it's what's happening in plain sight. And I'm going to ask you to open your eyes," Ramaswamy said in a video on X. "They want to narrow this down to a two-horse race between Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, a puppet they can control. Then they want to eliminate Donald Trump this spring or whenever it is, and trot their puppet into the White House."
"They're selling us the rope today that they're going to use to hang us tomorrow. And we have an obligation to this country to make sure that doesn't happen," Ramaswamy continued. "I'm in this race because we have a duty to this country and the America First movement to make sure this lives on no matter what. It didn't start in 2016. It started in 1776. And the system has made clear they're going to now stop at nothing."
Here’s the plot & it’s hiding in plain sight:
1. Narrow this to a 2-horse race between Trump & Haley.
2. Eliminate Trump.
3. Trot their puppet into the White House.
I respect the hell out of Trump. He’s the best President of the 21st century. I’ve defended him at every step… pic.twitter.com/2ws18qLQYR— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 13, 2024
"It's all I'm asking is to open your eyes, see the plot. It's staring us in the face. It's a hard pill to swallow, but sometimes the truth hurts and we have to open our eyes to see it," the candidate stated, who is positioned in fourth place in most polls, averaging between 4 and 8 percent, behind Trump, Haley and DeSantis, in that order.