On August 23, 2023, Vivek Ramaswamy gave a performance at the inaugural Republican debate of the 2024 US presidential election season reminiscent of Donald Trump’s style.

Vivek Ramaswamy, aiming to emulate Donald Trump’s outsider approach, is vying for a role as a prominent Republican figure. He aspires to challenge the established US political order, secure the presidency, and advocate for a staunch conservative agenda.

In an interview with British actor and podcast host Russell Brand, Ramaswamy drew parallels between himself and the 2015 version of Trump, suggesting he embodies the earlier spirit of Trump’s candidacy. This comparison led to playful banter between the two about out-Trumping Trump.

Subsequently, at the inaugural Republican debate of the 2024 presidential election season on August 23, 2023, Ramaswamy exhibited a Trump-esque performance. He confidently criticized opponents, embraced attacks, and presented unconventional policy propositions.

Media analysts widely acknowledged his strong showing. Post-debate discussions and analyses portrayed Ramaswamy as the standout candidate of the night. Republican pundit John Feehery remarked that Ramaswamy had a notable presence in the debate, earning him positive recognition.

Despite the praise, Ramaswamy promotes several controversial ideas that liberals deem hazardous. These include climate change denial and advocating for potential military actions against drug traffickers in Mexico.

While trailing behind Trump in recent Republican nomination polls, Ramaswamy’s surge underscores the party’s readiness to support unorthodox candidates with firm ideologies, even if lacking prior political experience.

Former Republican congressman turned critic, Joe Walsh, noted that the Republican base seeks a candidate with “bully” or “authoritarian” qualities, aligning such characteristics with Ramaswamy, alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, if not Trump.

Vivek Ramaswamy, aged 38, the son of Indian immigrants, amassed wealth in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors before gaining attention through his 2021 book “Woke, Inc,” which propelled him into the realm of right-wing politics.

Within the book, Ramaswamy criticized sustainability and equitable business policies (known as ESG), advocating for conservative values. He began appearing on right-wing platforms such as Fox News, where he opposed identity politics and condemned affirmative action policies in universities.

Despite relative anonymity before his White House bid, Ramaswamy quickly ascended from obscurity to vie with DeSantis for second place in Republican presidential opinion polls.

He positions himself as a unifying figure emphasizing faith, family, and patriotism as remedies for societal issues. While Hindu, he underscores “Judeo-Christian values.” Ramaswamy, a Harvard biology graduate and Yale Law School alumnus, presents himself as a candidate aiming to provide solutions rather than just grievances.

However, critics find many of Ramaswamy’s ideas impractical or extreme. He proposes raising the voting age to 25 unless individuals pass a civics exam or fulfill national service through the military or emergency response. He also advocates abolishing the Department of Education, the IRS, and even disbanding the FBI, in favor of integrating its agents into other agencies.

Despite global climate concerns, Ramaswamy champions fossil fuels and denies the climate change agenda. His debate performance garnered applause, particularly as he lauded Trump and criticized his detractors.

While Ramaswamy’s foreign policy stance on not sending more funds to Ukraine differed from the majority, it resonated with some voters who prioritize domestic issues over international aid.

His campaign reported a surge in fundraising following the debate, yet his financial backing remains far behind Trump and DeSantis.

Ultimately, Ramaswamy’s emergence has momentarily propelled him into the spotlight, but he faces an uphill battle against Trump’s stronghold on the Republican nomination.