Trump criticises Ramaswamy publicly ahead of Iowa caucus
Former US president Donald Trump for the first time has lashed out at his rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who is most closely aligned with him in the race for the Republican nomination, accusing the Indian-American entrepreneur of engaging in "deceitful campaign tricks". Trump's remarks came ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Monday, marking the beginning of the long process by which the Republicans and Democrats choose their nominees for the presidential election.
The comments come after a series of remarks and posts by Ramaswamy, 38, that have angered Trump and his team.
Trump's criticism stemmed from shirts that Ramaswamy's campaign is handing out that say 'Save Trump, Vote Vivek' on them.
Ramaswamy posted a photo with a group of young men wearing them after his event in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday that caught the former president's attention.
"Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the best President in generations,' etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks,"
Trump, 77, wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
"Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side' - don't get duped by this. Vote for 'TRUMP, don't waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA," he added.
Make America Great Again (MAGA) is an American political slogan and movement popularised by Trump during his successful 2016 presidential campaign and is used to refer to Trump's political base, The criticism marks the first time Trump and his team have made direct, public attacks against Ramaswamy.
Until now, Trump has largely avoided criticising Ramaswamy due to his strong praise and defence of the former president.
However, the criticisms come as voters will start making their voices heard in the first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday and as Ramaswamy has started to become more direct in laying out the case for why he is the Trump alternative.
On the campaign trail, the biotech entrepreneur has pitched himself to Trumpleaning voters as the best of both worlds: someone with experience as a businessman who also understands the Constitution.