Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, accused the Washington Examiner of publishing an article with a “false” and “intentionally deceitful headline.”
The conservative news outlet was slammed by Ramaswamy after it published an article about how the presidential hopeful had said during two earlier interviews that he had voted for the first time in 2020, though records and Ramaswamy have confirmed that he voted for the first time in 2004.
“This is the most false & intentionally deceitful headline of the campaign so far,” Ramaswamy wrote in a tweet. “Now that certain other campaigns are struggling, they’re shopping oppo research as a substitute for a real message.”
This is the most false & intentionally deceitful headline of the campaign so far. Now that certain other campaigns are struggling, they’re shopping oppo research as a substitute for a real message. Here’s the big “surprise”: I voted libertarian for President in 2004 when I was 19 https://t.co/qmbuUASQ1T
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) July 26, 2023
Ramaswamy added, “Here’s the big ‘surprise’: I voted libertarian for President in 2004 when I was 19.”
In two interviews from June 30 and July 12 with The Breakfast Club, a radio station based out of New York City, and Scripps News, Ramaswamy confirmed that he had voted for the first time in 2020.
During his July 12 interview with Scripps News, Ramaswamy said “the reality is, most young people” in the United States “don’t vote” because the candidates don’t excite them, in response to the host stating that it was “a pretty big jump” to go from voting for the first time to now running for president.
“It was a throwaway vote,” Ramaswamy told the Washington Examiner, explaining that he had allegedly forgotten about voting in 2004. Ramaswamy, who had been 19 years old at the time said he had been “disgusted” with both former President George W. Bush and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry as candidates.
Records for Butler and Franklin counties in Ohio also show that Ramaswamy had first voted in 2004 for the then-Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik, according to the outlet.
A Morning Consult poll conducted between July 21-23 shows 59% of voters would support former President Donald Trump, 16% would support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), 6% would vote for former Vice President Mike Pence, and 8% would vote for Ramaswamy.
Similarly, a poll from JMC Analytics conducted between July 18-22 showed 53% of voters would support Trump, 17% would vote for DeSantis, and 3% said they would vote for Pence and Ramaswamy.
IJR reached out to Ramaswamy’s team for a statement but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
