Former US President Donald Trump has warned his fans not to support biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy by calling him a “fraud” and a “conman” in conjunction with his campaign. Trump said in a TruthSocial post that the Indian American presidential candidate was using “deceitful campaign tricks” to mask his support for the outgoing US president.

Trump pleaded with his followers not to support Ramaswamy, saying that doing so would help the “other side.” According to The New York Times, Trump’s change in strategy points to a calculated move on the part of his team, suggesting that Ramaswamy—who currently stands fourth in Iowa polls—may be picking up some support from Trump’s base.

Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Ramaswamy stood up for Trump and has blasted other Republican rivals for not doing enough to back him. However, Chris LaCivita, a key counselor to the Trump team, called Ramaswamy the “number one Fraud” of the campaign. “If you are a Republican in Iowa and back @realDonaldTrump, you should be aware of the #VAFAKE movement. but beware …he’s a Vegetarian,” he added.

Ever since Trump launched his campaign, Ramaswamy has been an ardent supporter of the candidate and has pledged to pardon him upon winning the presidency. Ramaswamy promised to withdraw from the race and urged other Republican candidates to follow suit after Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible to vote due to the 14th Amendment. When Ramaswamy emerged victorious from the fourth GOP debate last month, even Trump praised him.

Vivek Ramaswamy responds

In response to the insults, Ramaswamy said he respected the former US President and denounced what he perceived as a system designed to prevent Trump from becoming president. “Yes, I did view President Trump’s post on Truth Social.” His campaign strategists made a terrible decision, and I don’t think friendly fire is beneficial. In reaction to this late attack, he commented on X, “I’m not going to criticise Donald Trump—I think he was the greatest President of the 21st century.”

“During my 390+ events here, I have had the opportunity to meet tens of thousands of Iowans, and they share my deep concern that this system will prevent Donald J. Trump from ever being in the White House.” He continued, “It appears they will do *anything* to prevent him from gaining authority. “Your diatribe doesn’t do anything to fix your loony pump and dump on MAGA…the end is near and you can go play more tennis,” remarked LaCivita, the advisor to the Indian American, in reaction to Trump’s criticism, despite the latter’s calm answer.

Still sticking to his “America-First approach,” Ramaswamy has garnered about 7.6 percent of the vote in Iowa—far less than Trump’s 53.6 percent. The Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, the last one before the Iowa Caucuses on January 15, is released just before Trump’s critique.

SOURCE: https://www.news18.com/world/fraud-vegetarian-conman-trump-turns-on-indian-american-vivek-ramaswamy-ahead-of-iowa-caucuses-8739592.html