Vivek Ramaswamy Supports Grand Old Party’s Right Wing on Juneteenth and Former President Donald Trump’s Indictments

Vivek Ramaswamy, a candidate from the Republican Party, has positioned himself as a supporter of former President Donald Trump, championing meritocracy and opposing what he terms as “wokeness” on his campaign trail. However, some recent statements made by Ramaswamy have sparked concerns among moderate Republicans.

Ramaswamy, whose background includes being the son of Indian immigrants, founding multi-billion dollar companies, and authoring multiple books, has gained attention as a unique candidate in the 2024 Grand Old Party primary. His lack of prior political experience is both a distinguishing factor and a potential point of contention.

While Ramaswamy has focused on promoting meritocracy and hard work, his perspectives on certain issues, including racial justice and the events surrounding the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, have drawn criticism from both his opponents and some voters.

During a recent campaign event in Iowa, Ramaswamy made headlines by referring to Juneteenth as a “useless” holiday. This statement came as a surprise to some, given that he had posted a video just a couple of months earlier commemorating Juneteenth. Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the emancipation of Black Americans from slavery, and Ramaswamy’s change in stance raised eyebrows.

In his initial social media post on the platform formerly known as Twitter, Ramaswamy had celebrated Juneteenth as a reflection of the nation’s progress and the potential for advancement through hard work and dedication. However, during a subsequent town hall event, he expressed skepticism about Juneteenth’s status as a national holiday. The situation escalated during his campaign event in Iowa, where he went so far as to label Juneteenth as “useless” and suggested canceling the holiday altogether.

Ramaswamy’s comments on Juneteenth triggered a response from one of his competitors in the 2024 Grand Old Party primary, Will Hurd. Hurd criticized Ramaswamy for his suggestion to “cancel a holiday that celebrates equality and freedom,” portraying Ramaswamy’s remarks as insincere or superficial.

Another area of concern revolves around Ramaswamy’s stance on the indictment of former President Donald Trump related to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Ramaswamy declared during an event in New Hampshire that he would fire all government officials involved in Trump’s prosecution. Furthermore, he proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and replacing it with an alternative institution, a move that experts warned could lead to significant disruptions.

Ramaswamy justified his call to abolish the FBI by asserting that the institution’s current culture and way of functioning are deeply entrenched and difficult to reform. He further contended that Trump’s indictments were politically motivated. However, there is no substantive evidence to support the claim that federal or state officials handling the cases against Trump were aiming to influence his potential reelection.

Regarding the events of January 6, 2021, when a mob stormed the US Capitol, Ramaswamy has been criticized for his avoidance of direct questions about Trump’s role. He evaded addressing whether he would have certified the election results like former Vice President Mike Pence did and refrained from directly holding Trump accountable. Instead, he indicated that he would have taken steps to prevent the situation from escalating to that point in the first place. Ramaswamy emphasized that he would not have allowed the situation to reach the “doorstep” it did.

Ramaswamy’s stance on the events of January 6 aligns with his assertion that censorship, rather than Trump’s actions, was primarily responsible for the attack. He also expressed his willingness to pardon Trump if elected to the White House. However, he did acknowledge that his response to the events would have been different from Trump’s approach. Ramaswamy clarified that he had not encountered substantial evidence of widespread ballot fraud that would have altered the election’s outcome.

While Ramaswamy did not offer a direct response to the most recent questions posed to him, he did express support for certain election-related measures that Trump has advocated for, such as holding a single Election Day and using paper ballots.

To sum up, Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for the Republican Party’s nomination has garnered attention due to his alignment with former President Donald Trump’s ideologies, his emphasis on meritocracy, and his rejection of “wokeness.” However, his recent statements, including labeling Juneteenth as “useless,” advocating for the dismantling of the FBI, and his responses to questions about Trump’s involvement in the January 6 attack, have drawn criticism and scrutiny from both his rivals and some members of the moderate Republican base.