Indian-American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has acknowledged that while there are some "very small" differences between him and former U.S. President Donald Trump, they share a deep alignment on policy issues, with over 90%.
Both candidates are vying for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2024.
During an interview with Fox News, Ramaswamy, a multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur, discussed his policy differences with Trump, his fellow Republican rival in the presidential race. He emphasised that both he and Trump represent "America-first" candidates in the race and stressed their shared ideals. He believes there is an opportunity to unite the country around these common values.
"I think we have an opportunity to reunite this country around our shared ideals, and that will allow me to take the America First agenda even further than Donald Trump did, by building on what I think is a very good foundation that he laid," stated Ramaswamy.
Regarding policy alignment, Ramaswamy said, "I think we're deeply aligned on policy, 90-plus per cent of the way." He also highlighted some specific differences in their approaches, such as his stance on affirmative action, border security, and the U.S. Department of Education.
Despite these differences, Ramaswamy expressed his support for Trump's policies. He has consistently praised Trump throughout his campaign and even vowed to pardon the former president of any potential convictions on his first day in the White House.
Trump, who is currently the frontrunner in the Republican nomination race, has also praised Ramaswamy, referring to him as a "smart, young guy" after his debut in the Republican presidential primary debate on August 23. Trump's remarks fueled speculation about the possibility of a "Vice President Ramaswamy."