Vivek Ramaswamy says he will NOT take a position in Donald Trump’s cabinet
2024 hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said he would not take a cabinet position in a Donald Trump administration.
The candidate’s comments come from a podcast appearance with conservative host Steve Hilton earlier this month and were previously unreported.
Since the interview was taped, former President Trump told Fox News that he would consider Ramaswamy as his vice president or a cabinet position if he becomes president again.
Ramaswamy told Hilton that anything that happens prior to the debates β including polls β is irrelevant because not all Americans got a chance to measure candidates side by side on stage.
Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said he would not join Donald Trump’s cabinet if he becomes president β or any of his challenger’s cabinets for that matter.
He also said there are plenty of other “talented politicians” who could fill an administration.
“Would you take a position on the board of one of your rivals?” wondered the British Fox News contributor.
‘I wouldn’t,’ Ramaswamy replied.
Trump said on Sunday when asked about a running mate among his competitors, βI think Vivek has done a really good job, honestly. I think others have done well.’
Trump said “possibly” when asked to run with those in the 2024 field already.
Instead, Ramaswamy suggested, if he loses the election, he will go back to the private sector to make a better impact in the “movement” against “wokeism.”
“I think the right way to bring about change for me in this country, if I’m not in this race, is through the private sector, as I’ve been doing it,” Ramaswamy said in the interview released on July 10. on the Steve Hilton show. “We all need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves: How can we make our unique contribution?”
βI wrote a book on average every six months before this campaign, parallel to building those businesses,β he added. “That’s how I will make an impact if I’m not successful in this race.”
Ramaswamy is an entrepreneur and self-made millionaire who got his start in the biotech sphere. He is married and has two young sons. The candidate has authored several books, including Nation of Victims and Woke, Inc. He credits himself for starting the fight against the “woke” establishment and really leading the way.
In a Sunday Morning Futures interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Trump specifically praised his GOP competitors Ramaswamy and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott when asked to consider his challengers as running mates.
If not VP, Trump said he could see some of them join his potential cabinet if he wins in 2024.
“I think there are a lot of talented politicians out there, and if there’s a need for another politician to fill a certain rank, there’s a great deep bench to choose from,” Ramaswamy told Hilton. “I think there’s a lot of thinness in our movement when it comes to people who really know how to build great businesses, achieve great success.”
Hilton said people are suggesting that Ramaswamy entered the race to land some kind of cabinet or board position knowing that his candidacy was dead from the start.
Ramaswamy backtracked on those claims and said, “I believe, Steve, we will be successful in this race.”
“And the reason I laughed before is literally every presidential cycle, someone in like May or June pontificates, thinking they know where that puck is going,” he continued.
βAnything before the debates start this fall is literally irrelevant. Almost β very few people in this country, as I said, remember who I am. And that’s okay. That’s a good thing because I’m honestly still doing better than we expected.’
Former President Donald Trump said during an interview Sunday morning that he would consider one of his current competitors as a running mate for 2024 if he becomes the Republican nominee β including Ramaswamy and Senator Tim Scott
There are several polls showing that Ramaswamy ranks third despite being new to the political scene.
A poll released earlier this month by Echelon Insights showed Trump leading the charge as usual with 49 percent and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis second with 16 percent.
Ramaswamy earned 10 percent, making him one of the first candidates β other than the two front runners β to break into double digits.
Still the 2024 Republican frontrunner by far, Trump said on Sunday he would consider some of his competitors his running mate on a Republican ticket if he wins the nomination.
“You actually have some good people on stage,” Trump told Bariromo. βI think you have some very talented people. Some have impressed me. I’m actually very friendly with some of them.’
“I think you have good potential cabinet members as well,” added the former president and 2024 frontrunner.
Trump specifically praised fellow 2024 candidates, Vivek Ramaswamy (right) and Senator Tim Scott (left), both of whom the ex-president said could be considered his running mate
Bartiromo specifically asked if Scott was among those with top talent.
βI think he’s a really good guy. We’ve done opportunity zones together,” Trump replied. “Tim is very good.”
“I mean I could see Tim doing something with the administration, but he’s campaigning right now, and I’m sure Tim and everyone else would say I’m only interested in one – but Tim is a very talented man and you have other very talented people.’
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Sen. Scott said he’s not interested in discussing the potential of a VP candidate because there are still those who want him to run for president.
“There are those who want me to be No. 1, and so I’m going to continue this race for one goal β it’s to be the president of the United States,” Scott told Fox host Neil Cavuto. “I didn’t start this race to finish second. Second place is the first loser.’
The Iowa primary is about six months away, and the first debate β which Trump may not even attend β is August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.