Ramaswamy Calls on DeSantis, Haley to ‘Drop Out:’ ‘That Would Be Healthy for this Country’

WATTERS: “Yeah, I think maybe people will be following in your footsteps soon, because this thing is almost a runaway train. It can’t be stopped. You were just up in New Hampshire. The official endorsement, we’re seeing it right there up on the screen, what did the former president tell you when you guys were backstage?”
Ramaswamy: “Look, we had a great conversation. I actually prefer to talk about policy rather than politics, Jesse, so we talked about a number of issues backstage which I’ve actually championed in this race that I do think would be beneficial to America First movement for President Trump to take on. I think he was very amenable to many of them. Opposition to a central bank digital currency, talking about certain pardons that I think we need on day one, Julian Assange included on that list. So, I’m not a politician, I’m a businessman, but I’m also somebody who cares about the details of policy and commitments, so we had some great conversations backstage about that before I went on stage — and I think that you guys may have seen some of the rally that we had and the response was overwhelming. I think it’s very clear who the Republican primary electorate is saying that they want to be the nominee. I ran to be that person, they sent me a very positive message, but a very positive message they sent to all of us is that Donald Trump needs to be nominee of this party, and 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 focus not only on nominating Donald Trump, but getting this country back and reviving those founding revolutionary ideals. I do think we live in that 1776 moment right now and we need to win.”
WATTERS: “You are calling on Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis to drop out right now?”
Ramaswamy: “I am. I do think that would be healthy for this country and I think that — you know what, especially Ron DeSantis, at least, of the two of them will have an important role to play in the future of this country and leading this nation. I do believe that. But I think the right thing to do right now is the people of this country, through the Iowa caucus, the most grassroots process I have seen, I personally did over 390 events, built great relationships and good will, but the message they sent was clear. I think it’s time to actually make sure we elect the right president, put America first, take the America First agenda to next level. And you know what, America First is not even about Trump. It did not start in 2016, it started in 1776.”
WATTERS: “You’re right.”
Ramaswamy: “So Donald Trump will be the right person to take this forward for the next four years, but we need to start laying down the foundation for this to live another 250 years and then some. I do think this is the right next step for us to take, which is why I proudly endorsed Donald Trump last night.”
WATTERS: “Well, you ran a very healthy and hearty campaign. We have a lot of respect for you, Vivek.”