Biotech entrepreneur and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy announced on Monday that he was ending his 2024 Republican presidential campaign. His decision comes after a disappointing finish in Iowa caucuses where he polled single-digits.
"I will stick to the truth tonight. The first hard truth and this was hard for me, I gotta admit this, but we've looked at it every which way. And I think it is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight," he said. "As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign," he added.
Ramaswamy, however, endorsed his rival, former President Donald Trump. "Earlier tonight, I called Donald Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory. And now going forward, he will have my full endorsement for the presidency," he said.
The campaign now moves to New Hampshire where the primary is scheduled for January 23. Ramaswamy is scheduled to campaign along with Trump in this State.
Though he was virtually unknown before his campaign, Ramaswamy was in third place for some time, after Trump and DeSantis. A son of Indian immigrants, Ramaswamy is the youngest person running for the Republican nomination.
Ramaswamy, a political novice, sprung to fame through his headline-grabbing statements, outspoken debate performances and his harsh needling of opponents. He had been a vocal advocate of a six-week, state-mandated ban on abortion and believe "climate change agenda was a hoax", vowing to increase fossil fuel production.
Though he had always backed Trump, the former President criticised Ramaswamy this weekend, posting on social media that a vote for him would be one for the "other side." However, Ramaswamy responded that "Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack."
Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences in 2014 and led the largest biotech IPOs of 2015 and 2016, eventually culminating in successful clinical trials in multiple disease areas that led to FDA-approved products, according to his bio. He has founded other successful healthcare and technology companies, and in 2022, he launched Strive Asset Management, a new firm focused on restoring the voices of everyday citizens in the American economy by leading companies to focus on excellence over politics.
