In a surprising turn of events, Vivek Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old entrepreneur and political outsider, has decided to suspend his 2024 US presidential campaign after a disappointing finish in the Iowa Republican caucus. Ramaswamy, who previously announced his bid as a Republican candidate, cited a lack of a viable path to the presidency.
Ramaswamy’s spokesperson, as quoted by the news agency AFP, confirmed the decision and revealed that the entrepreneur has thrown his support behind former President Donald Trump. This endorsement comes as no surprise, considering Ramaswamy’s previous statements hailing Trump as the “best president of the 21st century.”
Despite urging Republican voters to opt for “fresh legs” and take the “America First agenda to the next level,” Ramaswamy acknowledged the lack of a significant impact from his campaign. “As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign. There is no path for me to be the next president,” Ramaswamy announced.
The unexpected move comes as Donald Trump secured a resounding victory in the Iowa Republican caucus, reaffirming his dominance within the party. Trump, facing a series of legal troubles, expressed gratitude on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, “THANK YOU IOWA, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!”
Ramaswamy, in his concession speech, emphasized that there were “two America First candidates in this race,” and he called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory. “Now going forward, you will have my full endorsement for the presidency,” he declared.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finished in second place, narrowly ahead of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. With nearly 90% of the expected vote tallied, Trump led with 50.9%, while DeSantis secured 21.4%, and Haley garnered 19.0%, according to Edison Research. The margin of victory for Trump was poised to be a crucial factor, possibly exceeding the psychological threshold of 50%.
Both DeSantis and Haley had hoped for a strong second-place finish to demonstrate the viability of their challenges to Trump. However, the former president’s strategic approach, skipping debates and avoiding traditional campaigning, seemed to create an air of inevitability around his nomination.
As the 2024 US Presidential Elections unfold, Trump’s victory in Iowa and Ramaswamy’s unexpected endorsement add intriguing dynamics to the evolving political landscape, setting the stage for a contentious battle within the Republican party.