Ramaswamy Urges DeSantis, Haley to Drop Out and Endorse Trump for President

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy endorses Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Atkinson Country Club in Atkinson, N.H., on Jan. 16, 2024. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called on Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and endorse former President Donald Trump, as he did one day ago.

“I think Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley would actually, at this point, do this country and this party a service by stepping aside to make sure that we’re focused on not only nominating Donald Trump but getting this country back and reviving those founding revolutionary ideals,” said Mr. Ramaswamy during an interview with Fox News on Jan. 16.

“I do think that would be healthy for this country,” he added.

On Jan. 15, Mr. Ramaswamy ended his White House race after finishing fourth in the Iowa Caucuses with just under 8 percent of the vote. President Trump scored a landslide win with 51 percent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed second place at 21 percent, and the former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley finished third with 19 percent.

After suspending his campaign, the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur told his supporters that President Trump had his “full endorsement.”

Last month, the former President expressed with confidence that Mr. Ramaswamy would endorse him, saying he “is a good man.”

During the interview, Mr. Ramaswamy noted that the former President needed to be the GOP nominee and that endorsing President Trump “is the right move for the Republican Party to make at this point.”

“Especially Ron DeSantis, at least of the two of them will have an important role to play in the future of this country and leading this nation,” Mr. Ramaswamy added.

In the interview, Mr. Ramaswamy told host Jesse Watters that Americans are now living in “the 1776 moment.”

“It’s time to actually make sure we elect the right president, put America first. Take the America First agenda to the next level,” he noted.

“America First is not even about Trump. It didn’t start in 2016. It started in 1776,” Mr. Mr. Ramaswamy said. “Donald Trump will be the right person to take this forward for the next four years. But we need to start laying down the foundation for this to live another 250 years.”

Despite his call, Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley continue to campaign in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

In February 2023, Mr. Ramaswamy entered the 2024 race with limited name recognition. He spent millions of dollars on his campaign and led over several prominent Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Ramaswamy ‘Will be Working With us For a Long Time’

Just one day after dropping out of his presidential race, Mr. Ramaswamy appeared alongside the former president in New Hampshire.

“He’s a fantastic guy. He’s got something that’s very special … and he ended up very strong. He did a great job,” President Trump told his supporters at the rally. “It’s an honor to have his endorsement.”

“He’s going to be working with us, and he'll be working with us for a long time,” the 45th president added.

It’s unclear what position President Trump will offer Mr. Ramaswamy in his administration if elected.

During the Fox News interview, host Jesse Watters asked whether he wanted to be the vice president. “I want to serve this country in whatever way I can,” he replied.

‘Friendly Fire’

Mr. Ramaswamy has been a staunch defender of the former president. He vowed to withdraw his name from the primary ballots in Colorado and Maine in response to attempts by these states to remove President Trump’s name. He also appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling and keep the 45th president’s name on the state’s ballots.

However, one day before the Iowa Caucuses, President Trump went after the entrepreneur, accusing him of using deceitful campaign tricks“ and calling him ”not MAGA.”

In response, Mr. Ramaswamy still defended the 45th president and called him “the greatest president of the 21st century.” The biotech entrepreneur said it was “an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors” and “friendly fire” is not helpful.

Trump Campaign Calls on GOP Candidates to Drop out

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign and political action committee (PAC) MAGA Inc. called on his Republican presidential opponents to drop out of the race after he scored a major victory in Iowa’s caucuses on Monday.

The super PAC said in a statement that voters in Iowa sent a “clear message” about the presidential primary race and that it’s likely “Donald Trump will be the next Republican nominee for President. It’s now time to make him the next President of the United States.”

“Joe Biden’s team just announced a massive war chest. Every dollar spent by President Trump’s primary losers is a dollar that could be fighting Joe Biden,” the statement read.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Newsmax that Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley are now “wasting their time” and “wasting money.”

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.