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    Is Vivek Ramaswamy The GOP’s New Trump ‘Lite’?

    By
    Paul Crespo
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    13
    Vivek Ramaswamy speaking with attendees at the 2022 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

    ANALYSIS- Who is this skinny guy with the funny-sounding name? (That was his opening line at the debate). Vivek Ramaswamy wasn’t supposed to be at the center of the first Republican presidential candidate debate in Milwaukee.

    Ron DeSantis was supposed to be the viable GOP alternative to Donald Trump. A two-term governor of the third most populous state in the union, DeSantis, a Navy veteran who served in Iraq, is as conservative as they come.

    And he has a proven track record of fighting the left in Florida – and winning.

    But despite his solid bona fides and resume, DeSantis has a personality problem. He just doesn’t exude charm or confidence, and that’s hurting him – a lot.

    Meanwhile, Ramaswamy the 38-year-old Trump-defending, Cincinnati-born, biotech billionaire (worth at least $950 million), son of Pakistani immigrants, kind of stole the show at the debate.

    According to former FBI agent and body language expert, Joe Navarro: “[Ramaswamy] consistently looked the most comfortable on stage.”

    He was also the most openly and unabashedly pro-Trump. He was the first candidate to raise their hand when asked who would support the former President as the party nominee even if he is convicted on felony charges that he’s facing.

    He has also promised to pardon Trump if elected. But he went even farther than that.

    “President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century,” Ramaswamy said in a clip from the debate Trump posted on Truth Social.

    And Trump loved it.

    “This answer gave Vivek Ramaswamy a big WIN in the debate because of a thing called TRUTH. Thank you, Vivek!”

    The ever-smiling political newbie Ramaswamy, who seemed to be having a blast on stage, was also the target of many of his GOP rivals.

    As TIME reported:

    Maybe it was Ramaswamy’s consistent and confounding defense of All Things Trump. Maybe it was his smooth talk and culture-war acumen. Maybe it was just the fact that Ramaswamy frankly does not care how things were done before and might just have enough self-made money to go the distance.

    Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie snarled that he had “had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT,” an A.I. battery. He then dismissed Ramaswamy as someone on the same level as a political figure universally loathed in the GOP. “The last person in one of these debates… who stood in the middle of the stage and said, ‘What is a skinny guy with an odd last name doing up here?’ was Barack Obama. And I am afraid we are dealing with the same type of amateur standing on the stage tonight,” Christie said.

    But the quick witted Ramaswamy’s riposte to Christie was a zinger: “Give me a hug like you did to Obama, and you’ll help elect me just like you did to Obama. Give me the damn hug, brother.”

    Ramaswamy was referring to the 2012 incident when Christie was accused of “hugging” Obama during his visit in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy which hit days before the 2012 presidential election.

    It’s a claim that Christie has been denying since then, saying: “I didn’t hug him.”

    Photos at the time seem to back up Christie, but the zinger still worked.

    Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN under Trump, and ex-South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley, who is of Indian descent, hit Ramaswamy too: “You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows.”

    I would agree with that assessment and believe he has made a few deeply flawed important national security statements – including on Ukraine and Israel.

    But he is super smart and can learn quickly.

    Then Vice President Mike Pence took a Christie-like jab at Ramaswamy, attacking the very same quality that originally helped raise Trump in the GOP base – that he is not a politician.

    “Now it’s not the time for on-the-job training,” retorted Pence. “We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people with no experience.”

    AS TIME noted: “Attacks during debates are the norm but this was different. Ramaswamy’s competitors really don’t like him. Not even a little.”

    However, there is one important GOP rival who seems to like Ramaswamy – Donald Trump. And that could be all that matters.

    Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Great America News Desk.

    GOP Governor Signals Interest in 2024 White House Run

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    8
    Photo of Chris Sununu via Gage Skidmore Flckr

    New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is leaving the door open as to if he will pursue a bid for the White House in 2024.

    In an interview with Fox News, Sununu, who won reelection in November, admitted that he’s been approached about a possible presidential campaign and is seriously considering the matter. However, the governor acknowledged there’s still plenty of time to make a decision to make final decision and he still discussing the matter.

    “It’s incredibly flattering,” Sununu said of the speculation that he could mount a presidential bid. “A lot of folks are coming to me, a lot of folks want me to run. It’s definitely conversations that we’re having, of course.”

    “My first priority is New Hampshire. It really is,” he added. “But again, we’ll keep having those conversations. There’s no time table for making decisions or where it all goes.”

    “I think people have to understand it is, what? Jan. 4 or 5, right? Of ‘23? So we still have well over a year before we even get to the first-in-the nation primary,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of time before folks even get in the race.”

    The New Hampshire Governor acknowledged that other high-profile Republicans are considering their own presidential campaigns which could also impact his ultimate decision.

    “Who knows what might happen between now and then?” Sununu said. “And those unknown variables could really dictate who gets in the race and how successful they can be.”

    Early polling suggests that Trump and DeSantis are the two frontrunners for the 2024 nomination.

    Ronna McDaniel Steps Down As RNC Chair

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Ronna McDaniel via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    This is big…

    Following Donald Trump’s South Carolina primary win Ronna McDaniel has formally announced plans to step down as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

    McDaniel shared she plans to officially step down next week amid reports Trump wants fresh leadership in the RNC before heading into the general election.

    Maggie Haberman broke the news Monday morning, writing in the New York Times:

    The decision is not a surprise. The chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, told Mr. Trump weeks ago that she planned to leave shortly after the South Carolina primary, which was held on Saturday. But she now sets in motion a new election within the party’s official body, where Mr. Trump’s preference for chair and co-chair will try to secure enough votes to take over.

    Mr. Trump has publicly backed Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and the national committee’s general counsel, to replace Ms. McDaniel. And he has said that he wants his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to be the next co-chair.

    Mr. Trump’s remarks on the R.N.C. leadership came in the run-up to the South Carolina primary on Saturday, and in anticipation of his tightening his grip on the party. He ended up defeating his main rival, former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, by more than 20 points in her home state.

    Mediaite obtained a statement from the RNC, which reads:

    “It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as Chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our Party. Some of my proudest accomplishments include firing Nancy Pelosi, winning the popular vote in 2022, creating an Election Integrity Department, building the committee’s first small dollar grassroots donor program, strengthening our state parties through our Growing Republican Organizations to Win program, expanding the Party through minority outreach at our community centers, and launching Bank Your Vote to get Republicans to commit to voting early.

    “I have decided to step aside at our Spring Training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a Chair of their choosing. The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition. I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November. I want to thank my husband Patrick, our children Abigail and Nash, the members of the 168 who elected me four times, President Trump for giving me the opportunity to lead our Party, as well as the RNC staff and donors who have supported me and our mission over the years.”

    Earlier this month, Trump endorsed North Carolina GOP chair Michael Whatley, daughter-in-law Lara Trump, and campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita to lead the Republican National Committee (RNC).

    “Michael has been with me from the beginning, has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina, and is committed to election integrity, which we must have to keep fraud out of our election, so it can’t be stolen,” Trump said.

    “Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for,” the former president said. “She has told me she wants to accept this challenge and would be GREAT!”

    Republican Senator Refuses to Acknowledge Trump as Head of the Party

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    27
    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Despite Trump’s early 2024 campaign announcement, Republican senators are wary of dubbing him the current “leader” of the Party.

    Over the weekend, Bill Cassidy (R-LA) was especially harsh on the former president and rejected Trump as the leader of the Republican Party and said the GOP could shift away from his influence in the future.

    According to The Hill, Cassidy told CNN’s Pamela Brown that despite polls indicating Trump as the top candidate to receive the Party’s nomination he thinks Republicans should support someone else.

    “The Republican Party does not have a president in office right now,” Cassidy said. “It does not have anybody who’s obviously not my leader.”

    Cassidy on Saturday echoed other Republicans in calling for the party to “speak about the future” rather than fixating on issues in the past.

    “We’re led by principles. We’re led by kind of concepts,” Cassidy said. “A right-of-center party which thinks that smaller government, that individual responsibility, that free markets is more likely to bring prosperity to a family and prosperity to our country. … If we are responsible to those principles, then we win.”

    Cassidy has been critical of Trump over the years, even voting to impeach the former president in 2021.

    According to Politico, some Republican lawmakers are holding out hope South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott launches a White House bid in 2024.

    Joni Ernst is “very excited” about a potential Tim Scott presidential run. John Cornyn would “advise him to go for it.” And John Barrasso said it “doesn’t get any better than Tim Scott.”

    Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spent much of Donald Trump’s presidency sticking to his side, said he’s intrigued by the possibility of a Scott presidential bid in 2024 and wants to see “what Tim does” before he makes any endorsements.

    Scott would “bring something to the table on day one,” Graham said, adding his South Carolina colleague has “one of the most compelling stories of any Republican out there.”

    Nikki Haley Suspends Campaign

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Following Super Tuesday’s disappointing results for Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina Governor has suspended her campaign.

    “I am filled with the gratitude for the outpouring of support we’ve received from all across our great country,” Haley said. “But the time has now come just suspend my campaign.” 

    In brief remarks to a crowd of supporters, Haley did not endorse Trump but called on the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee to earn votes from those who did not back him in the Republican primary. 

    “It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him,” Haley said. “And I hope he does that. At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away.” 

    Trump kicked Haley on her way out of the primary in a post on Truth Social shortly after her remarks began. 

    “Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont, and various other Republican Primaries. Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters, almost 50%, according to the polls,” Trump wrote. 

    “At this point, I hope she stays in the ‘race’ and fights it out until the end! I’d like to thank my family, friends, and the Great Republican Party for helping me to produce, by far, the most successful Super Tuesday in HISTORY, and would further like to invite all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation. BIDEN IS THE ENEMY, HE IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!” 

    Nikki Haley Campaign Rips Trump, DeSantis in Leaked Memo

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    11
    The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    The gloves are coming off…

    The attacks from Nikki Haley‘s presidential campaign are heating up. In a leaked memo to donors, Haley’s campaign unleashed a barrage of attacks targeting her 2024 primary rivals.

    The memo from Betsy Ankney, Haley’s campaign manager, casts Haley as above the political fray in the GOP presidential primary, recapping her more-than $11 million fundraising haul in the first quarter and early efforts in critical primary and caucus states like New Hampshire and Iowa. 

    “Donald Trump had a pretty good Q1, if you count being indicted as ‘good,’” Haley’s campaign wrote.

    “It’s increasingly clear that Trump’s candidacy is more consumed by the grievances of the past and the promise of more drama in the future, rather than a forward-looking vision for the American people,” the memo reads.

    Haley’s campaign also takes aim at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who’s widely expected to launch a White House bid later this spring once the state’s legislative session concludes.

    “Ron DeSantis essentially launched his presidential campaign with a national book tour during this period and made one misstep after another, confirming what many observers have long suspected: he’s not ready for prime time,” the memo reads.

    “None have taken the plunge,” it says. “That’s of course their decision, but they certainly did nothing to help themselves in the first part of the year. By contrast, Nikki is a decisive person. When she puts her mind to something, she’s IN IT, devoting all her energy to it night and day, week-in and week-out.”

    The campaign took a slight shot at other contestants without specifically mentioning their names, suggesting they aren’t worth naming to begin with.

    “And then there are the others,” the memo reads. “Wait, what others?”

    ‘This Race Is Done’ Winner Projected In Georgia!

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    A Donald Trump is projected to win Georgia per Decision Desk HQ.

    During a press conference late Tuesday night, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) said “It looks like this is pretty much done. I think the results are pretty well baked in.”

    Elon Musk appeared to celebrate Trump’s early successes in various states as race results poured in Tuesday night, writing on X, “Game, set and match.”

    Decision Desk HQ projects Trump as the winner in the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia, though the races in other pivotal states, including the “blue wall” of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin have yet to be called. The wins put Trump squarely on the path to the White House while the Harris campaign is running out of paths forward.

    Both the Trump and Harris campaigns poured enormous resources into the state won by President Biden in 2020 by less than 1%.

    The Peach State’s early voting period between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 saw more than 4 million people vote either early in-person or absentee. That’s 55.5% of their active voting populace, according to Georgia’s Election Data Hub.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

    MSNBC Show Yanked From Air Monday After Trump Shooting

    By
    Patrick Houck
    -
    2
    Image via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    MSNBC yanked “Morning Joe” off the air on Monday after Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt on Saturday.

    Arguably MSNBC’s flagship program, the show is a favorite of President Joe Biden and is known for its anti-Trump views.

    The move came on the eve of what could’ve been the biggest Monday (in terms of ratings) in co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski’s TV careers.

    According to Fox News, network executives pulled the show off the air because they feared what the hosts or guests might say about Trump narrowly surviving an assassination attempt that killed a rallygoer and critically injured two others:

    Viewers who tuned in expecting to see the staunchly anti-Trump program, hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, were greeted instead by continued NBC News special reporting on the attempt on Trump’s life on Saturday. A spokesperson said “Morning Joe” will resume airing on Tuesday.

    According to a CNN report, a person familiar with the decision said it was made in part over fear that one of the show’s many guests over a 4-hour broadcast “might make an inappropriate comment on live television that could be used to assail the program and network as a whole.”

    The call by MSNBC to keep “Morning Joe” off the airwaves shocked political observers, with some conservatives saying it demonstrated a lack of trust in one of its most high-profile shows to sensitively cover a fraught situation.

    “The fact that Morning Joe’s own network can’t trust its flagship brand not to spew reckless and inflammatory crap during breaking news tells you all you need to know about the credibility of the MSNBC line-up,” a veteran Republican consultant told Fox News Digital.

    Others used X to share their thoughts on the significant programming change during one of the most significant days in cable news history:

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    Family Nanny Shares Presidential Candidate’s Disturbing Text Messages

    By
    Patrick Houck
    -
    3

    Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. finds himself embroiled in controversy today as accusations of sexual assault from 1998 have come to light. According to a revealing exposé in Vanity Fair, Kennedy is accused of groping his family’s nanny, Eliza Cooney.

    The Allegations and Kennedy’s Response

    Cooney, who worked as the Kennedy family’s weekend nanny in the 1990s, claims the incident occurred when she was 23 years old. At the time, RFK Jr. was 45 and married with five children. Cooney, who told her story to Vanity Fair earlier this month, passionately claims that Kennedy assaulted her, leading to a wave of outrage and calls for accountability.

    Kennedy’s response has been far from ideal. In an unsolicited text message reported by The Washington Post, he issued a non-apology to Cooney. Kennedy claimed he couldn’t recall if he committed the assault but expressed regret if he did anything to make her uncomfortable. “I never intended you any harm. If I hurt you, it was inadvertent. I feel badly for doing so,” he wrote. Cooney called the message “disingenuous and arrogant.”

    “I’m not sure how somebody has a true apology for something that they don’t admit to recalling. I did not get a sense of remorse,” she told the Post.

    Potential for More Accusers?

    When questioned about the possibility of other women coming forward, Kennedy’s response was vague and unsettling: “I don’t know, we’ll see what happens.”

    Polls show Kennedy at around 9% nationally. Independent candidates often struggle to secure a significant number of electoral votes, but RFK Jr.’s high profile could siphon votes from both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, potentially altering the dynamics of the race.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Independent candidate RFK Jr. accused of groping nanny in 1998.
    • Issued a nonapology, expressing regret without clear admission.
    • Potential for more accusers remains uncertain.
    • Polls show Kennedy at 9% nationally.

    This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. Republished with permission.

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    Report: Nikki Haley Snags over 150K votes in Battleground State After Dropping Out

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley received more than 150,000 votes in the Pennsylvania GOP primary on Tuesday despite having dropped out of the race weeks ago. 

    The Hill reported the most recent election returns, from just after 9 a.m. Wednesday, show Haley with nearly 157,000 votes, enough for 16.6 percent of the total, with 90 percent of votes cast counted.

    Former President Trump still easily won the primary, with more than 80 percent of the vote as of the latest count, and he will win all of Pennsylvania’s delegates in the winner-take-all primary. But Haley’s total is still a significant amount for a candidate who has not been in the race since early last month. 

    Despite Haley’s popularity among Republicans the former South Carolina Governor, she was unable to take a commanding lead over Trump.

    Still, Haley on Tuesday appears to have reached or came close to 20 percent in several counties. Her showing may not have significantly impacted Trump taking the state on his way to officially becoming the Republican nominee, especially as he became the presumptive nominee last month after clinching enough delegates. 

    But it could indicate a reason for concern in the general election, in which Pennsylvania is one of the key battleground states that could determine the winner of the race. The polling average of the state from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill has Trump ahead of President Biden in the state by just 0.4 percent, meaning every vote may have added importance there compared to other states in November. 

    Haley has seen continued support over recent weeks in other states. She received more than 77,000 votes in the Georgia GOP primary in March a few days after she dropped out, more than 150,000 votes, or almost 20 percent, in the Washington Republican primary and more than 110,000 votes in the Arizona GOP primary.

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