Vivek Ramaswamy aspires to emulate the path of Donald Trump: an outsider aiming to challenge the established political norms in the United States, secure the presidency, and advocate for a staunch conservative agenda while occupying the Oval Office.
“I’m more similar to Trump in 2015 than Trump today is to Trump in 2015,” Ramaswamy remarked during an interview with British actor and podcast host Russell Brand earlier this month.
Brand playfully retorted, “Trumper than Trump, trumping Trump on Trumpness.”
A fortnight later, Ramaswamy delivered a performance reminiscent of Trump’s style at the initial Republican debate of the 2024 presidential race – reproaching rivals, embracing confrontations, and promoting unorthodox policy propositions.
This caught the attention of political analysts and media pundits nationwide. In the aftermath of the event on Wednesday, customary post-debate analyses extolled Ramaswamy as the standout victor of the night.
Despite the praises he garnered, Ramaswamy advocates several fringe notions that liberals view as perilous, including discrediting climate change and considering military interventions against drug traffickers in Mexico.
Recent polls indicate that Ramaswamy trails far behind Trump in the race for the Republican nomination. Nevertheless, his ascent underscores the party’s readiness to rally behind candidates with unconventional and uncompromising ideas, irrespective of their lack of prior political experience.
Former Republican congressman turned outspoken party critic, Joe Walsh, expressed on social media last Friday that the Republican base is in search of a ‘bully’ or an ‘authoritarian’ contender: “That’s Trump. If not Trump, the only two other people on that stage the other night who fit that job description are [Florida Governor Ron] DeSantis & Ramaswamy. Nobody else.”
“Undue burden”
But another thing that Ramaswamy shares with Trump: legal troubles. In a recent court filing, the presidential hopeful used his run for higher office as an excuse to “wriggle out of a subpoena in a proceeding in Bermuda court involving one of his many pharmaceutical concerns.”
“As a candidate for President of the United States, I must frequently travel across the United States to campaign, make speeches, give media interviews, and meet with voters. Consequently, I am often away from home, and when I am home it is often not until late in the evening after a full campaign day,” he explained.
Ramaswamy emphasized that the requested subpoena and ensuing discovery process would impose an “undue burden” and negatively impact his pursuit of higher office.
Furthermore, Ramaswamy emphasized that he lacks significant knowledge regarding the specific transaction that forms the basis of the underlying Appraisal Proceeding. He maintained that he does not possess material information relevant to the case.
Ramaswamy, the founder of Roivant Sciences and a former board member of both Roivant Sciences and Sumitovant Biopharma until earlier this year, was part of a significant acquisition move. Sumitovant Biopharma successfully acquired Roivant subsidiary Myovant in October 2022, marking a significant development in the industry. The acquisition was finalized in March, with Sumitovant agreeing to a payment of $27 per share for all outstanding Myovant shares.
However, following this transaction, Alpine Partners, an investment management firm that was once a shareholder of Myovant, took legal action. They initiated an appraisal rights lawsuit aimed at ensuring fair compensation for shareholders’ stock, including themselves. Alpine Partners issued a subpoena for Ramaswamy’s testimony and relevant materials pertaining to how Myovant was valued during the merger negotiations. The scheduled testimony date was set for June 30, with an additional 30-day grace period for compliance.
The judge’s decision regarding Ramaswamy’s motion is still pending. Ramaswamy’s stance reflects his belief that his presidential candidacy exempts him from certain legal obligations, echoing a strategy reminiscent of Donald Trump’s approach. Trump, who is facing a series of legal challenges, has previously attempted to postpone trial dates until after elections, potentially leveraging a victory to shield himself from multiple lawsuits.
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?
Born to Indian immigrants in the United States, Ramaswamy, now 38, accumulated substantial wealth through ventures in pharmaceuticals and biotech. His profile skyrocketed in 2021 with the publication of his book “Woke, Inc,” which catapulted him into the sphere of right-wing politics.
Within the pages of this book, he vehemently criticized the drive towards sustainable and equitable business strategies, often referred to as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives.
Following this, Ramaswamy, hailing from Ohio, began making appearances in right-wing media outlets, notably Fox News. On this platform, he passionately condemned the liberal emphasis on identity politics. His rhetoric also tapped into conservative resentment against affirmative action policies in universities, which the Supreme Court prohibited in June, citing racial considerations in admissions.
Ramaswamy ardently champions the concept of a race-neutral “meritocracy” as an alternative to measures that seek to enhance diversity. He frequently asserts, “Reverse racism is racism.”
Despite his recurrent media presence, Ramaswamy’s name was relatively obscure until he launched his presidential campaign this year. Remarkably, within a short span, he transformed from an unfamiliar figure on the national stage into a contender, vying with DeSantis for second place in Republican presidential primary polls.
Meanwhile, Trump became the only US president in history to have a mug shot taken after he found himself booked at Fulton County Jail on Thursday night as inmate P01135809, facing state charges linked to an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. The indictment marks the fourth one this year for the former president, further intensifying his legal challenges as the 2024 election looms. He’s the first US president to be indicted at this rate in the history of the country.
Information for this story was found via Al Jazeera and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses
