Campaign

Ramaswamy calls for DeSantis, Haley to drop out and endorse Trump

by Miranda Nazzaro - 01/16/24 10:22 PM ET

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy urged Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley on Tuesday to drop out of the race to ensure party unity behind President Trump.

“I think Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley would actually, at this point, do this country and this party a service by stepping aside to make sure that we’re focused on not only nominating Donald Trump but getting this country back and reviving those founding revolutionary ideals,” Ramaswamy said during in an interview with Fox News anchor Jesse Watters.

When pressed by Watters if he is calling on Haley and DeSantis to drop out, Ramaswamy said, “I am, and I do think that would be healthy for this country.”

His comments come just a day after he suspended his 2024 GOP presidential campaign and threw his support behind Trump, after seeing a disappointing showing in Monday’s Iowa caucuses.

Ramaswamy had voiced support for Trump when they were on the campaign trail against each other, leaving little mystery over which candidate he would back. At one point, Ramaswamy urged the other 2024 competitors to pledge they would pardon the former president for federal charges he faces in his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

Ramaswamy’s long-shot bid was met with disappointing numbers in Iowa, receiving support in the single digits in the Hawkeye State. Trump won by nearly 30 points, with 51 percent of the vote, while DeSantis came in second with 21.2 percent and Haley close behind at 19.1 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ.

A number of political figures have pointed to Trump’s win in Iowa in calling on DeSantis and Haley to step aside. Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham said Tuesday that DeSantis has little to “gain” from remaining in the GOP primary race and that Trump is “simply too powerful” for DeSantis to beat him.

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, meanwhile, published a piece earlier Tuesday urging DeSantis to drop out to give Haley a chance at beating Trump.