'Respect can’t be bought': Internet slams Vivek Ramaswamy for 'generous' donation to Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has ignited a firestorm on social media by making a substantial donation to Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative nonprofit organization founded by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery.

Kirk, the face of TPUSA, announced the generous contribution on Friday, January 26, commending Ramaswamy for his commitment to supporting the organization's grassroots initiatives aimed at influencing the next generation.

Charlie Kirk thanks Vivek Ramaswamy for 'generous' donation to Turning Point USA

In a post on social media, Kirk said that at a recent AmFest event, Ramaswamy had pledged his support to the organization, which advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses across the country. According to Kirk, Ramaswamy followed through on that pledge by giving a "very generous gift" to TPUSA.

"I hear that a lot, but most people don’t follow through. I never even brought it up with him after he said it, but Vivek all on his own just gave a VERY generous gift to TPUSA to support our grassroots efforts to reach the next generation," Kirk wrote on X. "Big gratitude and respect. He is the real deal, and he truly cares about saving our country," he added.

Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 along with Montgomery. The nonprofit has chapters on thousands of college campuses and is active in promoting conservative speakers and ideology to students.

The revelation of Ramaswamy's financial support comes on the heels of recent controversial remarks made by Kirk regarding race. Earlier this month, Kirk said during his podcast, "If I see a Black pilot, I'm gonna be like 'boy, I hope he is qualified'," as reported by Newsweek.

He later attempted to walk back the comments after facing widespread criticism, saying the remarks did not reflect his true beliefs. However, Kirk's producer, Blake Neff, defended the comments by blaming "left-wing politics" for making Kirk feel he had to react that way due to concerns over affirmative action policies leading to underqualified minority pilots.

Internet reacts to news of Vivek Ramaswamy's donation to Turning Point USA

The news that Ramaswamy had now given financial assistance to Kirk's TPUSA was met with strong criticism on social media, with many slamming the decision in light of Kirk's recent remarks.

One X user took issue with TPUSA's tax-exempt status, stating, "@TPUSA is tax exempt from the IRS. They shouldn't have that privilege." Meanwhile, another user directed their criticism at Ramaswamy himself, quipping, "Vivek Ramasmarmy, have you looked in a mirror lately? Charlie Kirk hates you..."

Another voice entered the conversation, expressing skepticism about Ramaswamy's potential acceptance within certain circles, stating, "He’ll never be able to buy himself white in these guys’ eyes."

This sentiment continued with another user advising against financial support for those perceived as harboring animosity, "Don’t give money to people who hate you. Respect can’t be bought."

Further commentary delved into broader perceptions within the conservative movement, with one user asserting, "Self-loathing is at the heart of everything Charlie and Trump do every day, there's no reason to believe Vivek to be any different." The general tone of the internet's reaction was summed up succinctly by one user who simply stated, "Not surprised."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.