After taking blows from former President Donald Trump for "deceitful campaign tricks" Saturday night, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy tried to smooth over the flak with an in-depth response, vowing, "let's do it together; you won't hear any friendly fire from me."
Trump came out to blast Ramaswamy after months of rare smooth relations between the GOP primary rivals, denouncing the often-praiseful Ramaswamy for posing for a photo with young men wearing sweatshirts that showed Trump's famed mugshot and read, "Save Trump, Vote Vivek."
"Yes, I saw President Trump's Truth Social post," Ramaswamy posted to X in a 339-word missive. "It's an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don't think friendly fire is helpful. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I'm not going to criticize him in response to this late attack."
But while Ramaswamy tried to smooth over the relations, he did not back down from his position that the deep state is still trying desperately to keep Trump from returning to the White House.
"I've met tens of thousands of Iowans across 390+ events here, and they are deeply worried — and so am I — that this 'system' won't allow Donald J. Trump anywhere near the White House again," Ramaswamy continued. "It seems they will stop at *nothing* to keep him away from power.
"I'm worried for Trump. I'm worried for our country. I've stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and I've defended him at every step.
"I showed up at the Miami courthouse in solidarity following his first federal indictment. I filed a FOIA demand to the Biden DOJ. I submitted an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on them to overturn Colorado's ruling.
"I pledged to remove myself from Maine's & Colorado's primary ballots if they remove Trump, calling on DeSantis and Haley to do the same."
Ramaswamy added the 2020 election cycle — including the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 race riots by Black Lives Matter and antifa after George Floyd's death — show America is going to pull out all the stops against Trump.
"But we have to open our eyes," he continued. "Last time it was a man-made pandemic & Big Tech election interference. Now, the same billionaires funding the lawsuits against Trump are the ones trying to prop up Nikki Haley. The same MSM blasting Trump is lavishing praise on Nikki.
"They want to narrow this to a two-horse race between Trump & Haley, eliminate Trump (one way or other), & trot their puppet into the White House."
Ramaswamy finished with a warning to voters.
"We can't fall for that trap," he concluded. "1 year from now, we won't look back and say we were shocked that it happened. We'll kick ourselves for not stopping it.
"Our movement must live on. America-First didn't start in 2016. It started in 1776. We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do the right thing for our country. I want to save Trump & to save this country.
"Let's do it together. You won't hear any friendly fire from me."
The Trump post that made headlines and sparked Ramaswamy's response read: "Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the best President in generations,' etc.; unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks.
"Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side' — don't get duped by this.
"Vote for 'TRUMP,' don't waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA.
"The Biden indictments against his political opponent will never be allowed in this country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!!"
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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