Washington - Amidst the Republican Presidential race, Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has steadily risen to prominence, even though he entered the race without national recognition. In a recent survey, the author of 'Woke Inc.' secured the second spot in the Republican field, sharing this position with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
According to an Emerson College poll, both Ron DeSantis and Ramaswamy garnered 10 percent each, trailing former President Donald Trump, who maintains a commanding lead at 56 percent, as reported by The Hill.
Attention now turns to the imminent Republican primary debate, where Ramaswamy, DeSantis, and other GOP candidates will have the chance to shine on the national stage, while Trump has indicated his intention to skip the event.
Vivek Ramaswamy in Focus
Vivek Ramaswamy, a relatively young and affluent tech entrepreneur, has labeled wokeism as a national threat and launched his 2024 presidential bid during a live interview on Fox News's prime-time show in February of this year.
At the age of 38, Ramaswamy holds the distinction of being the youngest major Republican presidential candidate. Born in Ohio to Indian immigrant parents, he pursued a biology degree from Harvard University before completing his education at Yale Law School.
Having established a biotech company that brought him financial success, Ramaswamy furthered his accomplishments by founding an asset management firm last year. He is also the author of several books, including 'Woke, Inc.' His literary works have propelled him into the conservative sphere, with appearances on platforms such as Fox News, where he criticizes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and promotes a focus on profit in investments.
Ramaswamy asserts that he is the sole candidate within the GOP field capable of achieving the resounding victory the country requires in 2024.
Endorsement by Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy as a 'promising candidate' for the presidential race. Responding to a clip of Ramaswamy on Tucker Carlson's show shared on X, Musk praised him as a "very promising candidate."
Vivek Ramaswamy's Standpoints on the Middle East, Ukraine, and the FBI
Ramaswamy takes an anti-war and anti-immigrant stance and pledges to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Yet, his primary political focus centers around his opposition to "wokeism." While he carries forward several of Trump's policies, he presents himself as more articulate and optimistic.
Here are some of his publicly expressed viewpoints:
Ramaswamy advocates utilizing normalization agreements in the Middle East as leverage to curtail US military aid to Israel after 2028. He argues that Israel should not receive more aid than its Middle Eastern neighbors after the expiration of the current US aid package of $38 billion in 2028.
On the Ukraine War, he proposes ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Moscow retaining parts of the Donbas region and Kyiv refraining from joining NATO. He further suggests that Vladimir Putin must sever his military alliance with China to bring an end to the conflict.
Ramaswamy identifies as Hindu and aligns his values with those of Christians. He vows to uphold religious liberties in the US, emphasizing shared values.
He is a regular commentator on Fox News and similar conservative platforms, advocating for capitalism and meritocracy while critiquing affirmative action, mask mandates, and open borders. He is anti-abortion and believes that gender dysphoria should be treated as a mental illness.
Ramaswamy commends Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an "excellent" leader and praises his embrace of free-market capitalism. He sees Modi as an example to emulate, standing firmly for American national identity.
He pledges to dismantle several federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Education, ATF, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, IRS, and Department of Commerce. Ramaswamy's objective is to stimulate the economy and eliminate unnecessary agencies.
Ramaswamy claims that he is the only candidate capable of downsizing 75% of the federal bureaucracy within his first term, including a 50% reduction in the first year. He plans to reassign the remaining 15,000 FBI agents to more effective agencies, such as the U.S. Marshals Service, focusing on crimes such as child sex trafficking.
During his college years, Ramaswamy openly challenged campus liberalism, even dissenting from his right-leaning peers on topics such as the treatment of Guantanamo prisoners. In 2007, he questioned then-FBI Director Robert Mueller about the need for an external check on the FBI concerning civil liberties.
Ramaswamy contends that the United States has become a nation of victims and has veered away from its core values of faith, patriotism, hard work, and family. He takes pride in his ability to speak without a teleprompter, and his blend of specific policy proposals and eloquent delivery has garnered support.
He has also announced plans to station the military along the US-Mexico border every half-mile by March 31, 2025, to counter illegal immigration and the influx of drugs like fentanyl. These proposals have resonated well during his recent stops in Iowa.