March 20:
Vivek Ramaswamy is being considered for a cabinet post but is no longer in the running to be Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee. The story was first reported by Bloomberg, which claims that Trump directly informed the Indian American biotech entrepreneur that he is thinking of appointing him to additional positions, such as head of the Department of Homeland Security. According to Bloomberg, "some Trump supporters view Ramaswamy as perfect for the role because they claim he is a gifted public speaker and, as the son of an immigrant from India, could neutralise criticism of sweeping immigration restrictions."
As the New Republic pointed out, some of Ramaswamy's comments during the campaign trail suggest that he lacks the ability to formulate national and international policy. The media outlet said that he had "horrific plans for immigration law," including "using the military as law enforcement" and that he had promised "to deport the roughly 700,000 Dreamers" and make them reapply for citizenship. He had "some objectively terrible ideas" on foreign policy, according to the New Republic. "He declared that if elected, he would allow China to annex Taiwan after 2028 and allow Russia to maintain its current occupied territories in Ukraine."
In January, Ramaswamy halted his presidential candidature and gave Trump his endorsement. On January 15, the 38-year-old businessman made an announcement in Des Moines following a depressing fourth-place result in the Iowa caucuses.
But in August, while still on the campaign trail, he declared that if he did not secure the GOP nominee in 2024, he would turn down an opportunity to serve as vice president for someone else. He declared on Fox News, "I'm not interested in a different position in the government." "To be honest, I would effect change in the private sector before moving up to the second or third rung in the federal government."
During a Fox Town Hall speech last month, Trump disclosed that Ramaswamy is one of six potential vice presidential candidates he may take into consideration. Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii and the first Hindu American in Congress, is also a contender. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Florida Republican Byron Donalds, and Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida are all on the list.
A few days later, Ramaswamy, former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem were identified as the front-runners for Trump's running mate selection, according to a star survey done at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Participants in the yearly event, which took place in Maryland from February 21–24, awarded 15% each to Noem and Ramaswamy and 9% to Gabbard.
Ramaswamy had no prior political experience when he entered the 2024 contest. Author of the book "Woke Inc." and founder of the biotech company Roivant Sciences, he used his money to finance the majority of his campaign. He sided with Trump from the first and gave him constant praise. He "rose to prominence during the GOP presidential debates, aggressively attacking his rivals and engaging in combative, sometimes personal, criticisms," according to Axios. In addition, he promised to pardon Trump should he win the presidency and pledged to back him even if he was found guilty of offences. He once declared that in states where Trump was successfully removed off the ballot, he would willingly take his name off the ballot.
