'Running solely as Trump surrogate': Internet mocks Vivek Ramaswamy as he urges SC to overturn Colorado decision against ex-POTUS

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has lodged an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in support of former President Donald Trump's efforts to remain on state ballots.

The filing, made on Thursday, January 11, highlights Ramaswamy's belief that disqualification under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment is unwarranted merely due to the fear of facing a formidable opponent.

Vivek Ramaswamy's stand

"President Trump’s political opponents have sought to disqualify him from the ballot in multiple states because they fear they cannot beat him in a free and fair election," Ramaswamy noted in the filing. "Needless to say, the distress of competing against a formidable opponent cannot justify disqualification under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The consequences of affirming the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision will extend far beyond the dispute over President Trump’s eligibility."

"Specifically, this Court’s blessing of the state supreme court’s interpretation of Section 3 will warp incentives for state decision-makers and voters alike," Ramaswamy continued. "For secretaries of state and state supreme court justices, the path to national notoriety will be illuminated: To enhance your credibility among co-partisans, simply concoct a reason to declare a disfavored presidential candidate of the opposing party ineligible to run for office."

"For voters, the message will be equally clear: Scour the records of disfavored candidates for speeches containing martial rhetoric, or even policies that had unintended consequences, and then file challenges under Section 3. The number of Section 3 complaints will proliferate, as will the number of divergent outcomes," the presidential hopeful added.

The amicus brief comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on whether Trump should remain on the Colorado Republican presidential primary ballot. The case is scheduled for an expedited hearing on February 8, and the justices have ordered briefs to be submitted by January 31.

In response to the urgency of the matter, the justices issued an administrative stay, instructing the Colorado Secretary of State to include Trump's name on the GOP primary ballot until a final decision is reached.

Ramaswamy, on Wednesday, voiced his intent to file the amicus brief, expressing hope that it would "overturn Colorado's disastrous decision to try to keep Donald Trump off the ballot."

"I feel a sense of obligation to do that as somebody who understands the Constitution," he said in a video announcement. "It's my belief that every other Republican, myself included, needs to withdraw from any ballot that forcibly withdraws Donald Trump from the primary."

Social Media Backlash

However, Ramaswamy's move stirred reactions on social media, with some questioning his motives.

"Vivek is running solely as a Trump surrogate," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Bucking for the VP job," another reacted.

"Ramaswamy groveling for a Trump administration position. But Trump cannot win the General election," a comment read.

"The guy is selling himself to Trump He is just pushing to be recognized by him," someone else offered.

"I have to give BigPharmaswamy some credit credit. He hired an outstanding PR team," another chimed in. 

The Colorado Supreme Court's decision to employ Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to bar a presidential contender from the ballot marked a historic moment. The court concluded that Trump had "engaged in insurrection" during the January 6, 2021 protests at the U.S. Capitol.

The upcoming Supreme Court hearing will delve into the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, enacted in 1868 after the Civil War, which prohibits individuals who have "engaged in insurrection" from holding public office, Fox News reported.