Republican Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of 2024 presidential race

• Ramaswamy came in 4th place with about 7.7% of the vote in Iowa.
• Republican candidates appeared irritated with him in the debates.
• He won support from the libertarian crowd and the tech world.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a multi-millionaire biotech executive, ended his run for the White House on Monday, endorsing Donald Trump after his long-shot bid failed to garner enough attention in Iowa’s first GOP nominating contest.

“There is no way for me to become President absent things that we do not want to see happen in this country. I am very worried about this country,” Ramaswamy told supporters in Des Moines.

He added that Trump “will have my full support for the presidency.”

Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old born in Ohio to immigrant parents from southern India, was one of the surprises in the 2024 Republican race dominated by former President Trump.

The staunch Trump supporter likely secured a place in Republican politics going forward because of his youthful demeanor, deep pockets and aggressive campaigning.

Trump has turned on him in recent days before the Iowa caucuses, calling him a “fraud” and claiming a vote for Ramaswamy was a vote for “the other side.”

However, in his victory speech, Trump took a softer tone toward Ramaswamy, saying, “I also want to congratulate Vivek, because he did a hell of a job.”

Partial results for the Iowa caucuses showed Ramaswamy coming in fourth with about 7.7 percent of the vote, according to Reuters.

Harvard-educated Ramaswamy gained notoriety in right-wing circles for his 2021 bestseller “Woke, Inc.,” which criticized the social justice and climate change strategies of big corporations.

His debate appearances and media focus won him headlines but also turned off some voters. By the end of 2023, his national poll numbers with likely Republican voters were in the low single digits.

Ramaswamy, a new Republican candidate, faced criticism from fellow candidates, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who said, “Every time I listen to you, I feel a little dumber.”

But he’s won support from the libertarian crowd and the tech world, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who attended a fundraiser for him this fall. This support was reportedly influenced by Tesla’s CEO.