A day following the Iowa caucuses results, former President Donald Trump, securing a significant victory, conducted a rally in Atkinson, New Hampshire on Tuesday alongside fellow GOP leader Vivek Ramaswamy, expressing appreciation to the Indian-American leader for his endorsement.
Ramaswamy withdrew from the race after a distant fourth-place finish in Iowa, as Trump solidified his standing as the Republican presidential candidate in his quest to return to the White House.
After withdrawing from the race on Monday, Ramaswamy promptly endorsed Trump and urged Republican voters to prioritize putting an “America First patriot” in the White House.
Ramaswamy reiterated his endorsement of Trump at the Atkinson rally, stating that there is no “better choice” than him and encouraging people to make the “right decision.”
“There is not a better choice left in this race than this man right here. And that is why I am asking you to do the right thing and vote for Donald Trump as your next president,” Ramaswamy said in his address.
The former President also expressed gratitude to Ramaswamy for his endorsement, asserting that the Indian-American leader will be part of the team for a ‘long time.’
“It’s an honor to have his endorsement. He’s going to be working with us, and he’ll be working with us for a long time. Thank you,” Trump said.
Trump commended Ramaswamy’s campaign and hinted at the possibility of having him as his running mate, stating that “He would be very good…”. Ramaswamy has staunchly defended Trump against the four indictments leveled against him, considering him the “greatest President” of the 21st century.
The only setback occurred earlier this week when Trump criticized Ramaswamy, calling his campaign “deceitful” and advising supporters not to “waste” their vote on him. However, Ramaswamy maintained his refusal to criticize the former President, reiterating his stance that Trump is indeed the “greatest President” of the 21st century.
Meanwhile, the GOP race will shift to New Hampshire, where the primary is scheduled for January 23. In the Iowa caucuses, Trump secured 20 out of the 40 delegates, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis coming in a distant second with eight delegates, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley not far behind with seven delegates.
Trump’s victory in Iowa showed the control he maintains over the party and its supporters, positioning him for a potential rematch contest with incumbent Joe Biden in 2024, despite facing multiple indictments and legal challenges.
(Inputs from ANI)