In an unprecedented move, former President Donald Trump took to social media on Saturday to launch his first public attack against GOP rival Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump’s campaign advisers have expressed growing frustration over what they perceive as Ramaswamy’s insincere campaign strategies, according to sources at CNN.
Trump took to Truth Social, his preferred social media platform, to express his discontent. “Vivek began his campaign as a staunch supporter, praising me as ‘the best President in generations.’ Regrettably, he now masks his support with deceptive campaign maneuvers,” Trump posted on Saturday.
Trump further warned his followers, “A vote for Vivek is a vote for the ‘other side’ — don’t be fooled. Vote for ‘TRUMP,’ don’t squander your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be tolerated in this Country, they are already beginning to crumble! MAGA!!!”
This marks the first and most forceful assault on Ramaswamy by the former president, following a series of comments and posts by Ramaswamy that have reportedly irked Trump and his team. Despite previously refraining from criticizing Trump and often lauding him on the campaign trail, Ramaswamy’s recent actions have sparked controversy.
On Saturday, Ramaswamy shared a photo on X, formerly Twitter, featuring supporters wearing “Save Trump, vote Vivek” T-shirts, displaying an image of Trump’s mug shot from his processing at the Fulton County jail in Georgia last August. This post, shown to Trump, “infuriated” him, according to one adviser, who added that the former president believes Ramaswamy is attempting to undermine his candidacy while falsely portraying himself as a Trump supporter.
Trump’s campaign was also displeased with an interview Ramaswamy gave to NBC News and The Des Moines Register earlier this month, where he repeatedly referred to Trump as “wounded.” Ramaswamy argued that he is better positioned to carry out Trump’s agenda, stating, “They don’t have on me what they have on him.”
Another adviser noted, “He’s been making slights at the former president and we have noticed. If you poke the bear, the bear will bite back.”
Trump’s team maintains that there is no evidence in the polls to suggest Ramaswamy is gaining ground on Trump in Iowa. They insist that this response was purely based on Ramaswamy’s recent comments and posts. With a strategy focused on maximizing caucus-goer turnout, Trump’s campaign hopes to win Iowa by record margins to set the pace for the primary season and halt any momentum from his rivals.