Former President Trump heaped praise on fellow GOP presidential nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, saying Tuesday the entrepreneur has “really distinguished himself.”
Trump called into Glenn Beck’s show on Blaze TV, where Beck asked if Trump had given any consideration to Ramaswamy as a potential running mate.
“Well, I think he’s great. Look, anybody that said I’m the best president in a generation … I have to like a guy like that,” Trump said, a reference to Ramaswamy’s comments during last week’s GOP debate that Trump was the best president of his lifetime.
“He’s a smart guy. He’s a young guy. He’s got a lot of talent. He’s a very, very, very intelligent person,” Trump continued. “He’s got good energy, and he could be in some form of something. I tell ya, I think he’d be very good. I think he’s really distinguished himself.”
Trump added that Ramaswamy has started to get “a little bit controversial” as he’s gained more exposure.
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Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old entrepreneur, was among the most prominent candidates on the debate stage last week in Milwaukee. He has gained significant media attention as his poll numbers have ticked up and as he has made various inflammatory and controversial statements.
He has said he would cede parts of Ukraine to Russia to end the war in Ukraine; he has suggested the U.S. should cut off support to Israel; and he has faced backlash for incendiary remarks about Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), comparing the Black lawmaker to “modern grand wizards” of the Ku Klux Klan.
Ramaswamy has also effusively praised Trump, saying he would pardon the former president if he is convicted in any of his multiple upcoming trials and calling for other candidates to pledge the same.
A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Ramaswamy in third place in the GOP presidential race, trailing Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).