 "US elections 2024: Vivek Ramaswamy drops from race, endorses Donald Trump")
US elections: During the Caucus Night Press Conference on Tuesday, Vivek Ramaswamy announced that he would be officially dropping out of the presidential elections race for the Republican party. This comes a day after Ramaswamy was ruled out as a potential running mate for Donald Trump. Trump had publicly criticised the Indian-American presidential candidate ahead of the Iowa caucus, which began on Monday.
The Iowa caucuses formally kick off the process followed by the Republican and Democratic parties, where their respective presidential nominees are selected. Jason Miller, one of Trump's top advisors, told the New York Post that the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur Ramaswamy had been ruled out as a running mate. He said, "Pretty safe to say it won't be Vivek."
As of Monday, Ramaswamy had the support of two delegates, Nikki Haley had seven, Ron DeSantis eight, and Donald Trump led the pack with 19. 1,215 delegates are required to win the nomination.
On Tuesday, Ramaswamy surprised voters by announcing that he would drop out of the race after former US President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus.
"I thought I was the most qualified person to do the job... but that decision is not for me to make." When asked about next steps he added, "There is no specific plan we have made... I am not a Plan B person. There is no Plan B."
However, Ramaswamy showed his unwavering support for Donald Trump despite the former president lashing out at Ramaswamy on Saturday.
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"I am very focused on making sure Donald Trump becomes President of the United States," he said. Adding that he believed that other candidates, including Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis should "follow suit". Ramaswamy re-iterated his support, adding that he would do whatever was "best for the country."
"We are all in to do what is best for our country... I want to make sure that our country's best days are ahead of us," he told reporters.
He said he would endorse Trump as he believed that he was the best person to take the "America first" movement forward.