Conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight. Ramaswamy, who specializes in the healthcare and tech sectors, was dubbed “the C.E.O. of Anti-Woke, Inc.” in a New Yorker magazine profile last year.
During his appearance on the show, Ramaswamy stated that America is currently experiencing a national identity crisis. He noted that while Americans have celebrated their differences, they have forgotten that they are bound together by a common set of ideals that have driven the nation for the past 250 years. Ramaswamy’s goal is to revive these ideals in America.
Ramaswamy also called for the reintroduction of merit-based principles in American society. He vowed to end affirmative action in every sphere of American life, stating that people should be judged based on their contributions and character rather than the color of their skin.
The 37-year-old author of “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam” has been on a listening tour across America in recent weeks. He visited New Hampshire, which votes second in the Republican presidential nominating calendar, earlier this month. Ramaswamy will return to New Hampshire on Wednesday for multiple stops in Rochester and Manchester.
“This isn’t just a political campaign; this is a cultural movement to create a new dream for the next generation of Americans,” Ramaswamy said in a campaign video. “It means you believe in merit; that you get ahead in this country not on the color of your skin but on the content of your character and your contributions.”
Former President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are currently the only other two Republicans in the 2024 presidential race. With Ramaswamy’s announcement, the Republican field has gained another candidate who promises to promote conservative values and principles.