Vivek Ramaswamy Won’t Be Trump’s VP Pick But in Consideration for Cabinet Position as Homeland Security Chief
- The Indian American who endorsed Trump after suspending his campaign in January, has been pedaling conspiracy theories and has talked about taking the former president’s policies even further.
Vivek Ramaswamy is out of contention as Donald Trump’s potential vice president pick, but is being considered for a cabinet position. According to Bloomberg, which first reported the story, Trump personally told the Indian American biotech entrepreneur that he is considering him for other roles, including head of the Department of Homeland Security. “Some Trump allies see Ramaswamy as ideal for the job,” Bloomberg said, “because they say he excels at public speaking and, as an Indian American son of an immigrant, could neutralize criticism of sweeping immigration restrictions.”
However, some remarks made by Ramaswamy on the campaign trail indicate his lack on policy making chops — both national and international, as the New Republic noted. He had “horrific plans for immigration law,” the media organization said, “including using the military as law enforcement,” and his promise “to deport the roughly 700,000 Dreamers,” and force them to reapply for citizenship.” On foreign policy, he had “some objectively terrible ideas,” the New Republic said. “He said that if he were elected, he would let China invade Taiwan after 2028 and he would let Russia keep the parts of Ukraine that it currently occupies.”
Ramaswamy suspended his presidential campaign in January and endorsed Trump. The 38-year-old entrepreneur announced in Des Moines on Jan. 15 after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.
However, on the campaign trail in August, he said he would reject an offer to become someone else’s vice president if he does not win the GOP nomination in 2024. “I’m not interested in a different position in the government,” he said on Fox News. “Frankly, I’d drive change through the private sector sooner than becoming number two or three in the federal government.”
Last month, speaking at a Fox Town Hall, Trump announced that Ramaswamy is among six possible candidates he might consider for vice president. Also in contention is former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu American in Congress. The list also includes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, and Florida Republican Byron Donalds.
A few days later, a star poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) revealed that Ramaswamy was among the lead contenders for Trump’s running mate pick, along with former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Attendees at the annual event held in Maryland from Feb. 21-24, gave Noem and Ramaswamy 15 percent each, while Gabbard got 9 percent.
Ramaswamy entered the 2024 race with no prior political experience. Founder of the biotech firm Roivant Sciences and author of the book “Woke Inc., he funded most of his campaign from his fortunes. Right from the start, he aligned with Trump, and repeatedly praised him. According to Axios, he “emerged as a lightning rod during the GOP presidential debates, aggressively attacking his rivals and engaging in combative, sometimes personal, criticisms.” He also vowed to support Trump, even if he was convicted of felonies, promising to pardon him if elected to the White House. At one point he announced that he would voluntarily remove his name from the ballot in states that succeeded in knocking Trump from the ballot.
He talked about taking Trump’s policies even further as president on the campaign trail. He pledged to shut down government agencies; vowed to use the United States military to secure the southern and northern borders; and also proposed ending birthright citizenship for American-born children of undocumented immigrants. He often spoke about how his Hindu faith was aligned with the values of Evangelical Christian voters. But when his supporters urged him to push for the vice presidential slot on Trump’s ticket if offered, he would answer that he’s “not a Plan B” person.
When he started fading in polls in Iowa, he increasingly embraced fringe theories and far-right claims in the Hawkeye State. The Washington Post noted that like former Iowa Rep. Steve King who endorsed Ramaswamy, he has “increasingly embraced extreme ideas, far-right individuals and causes, and debunked conspiracy theories.” Over the months, he gained support from far-right and white supremacist figures as well.
(Top photo, Vivek Ramaswamy/X)