'Sound of a snake!': Vivek Ramaswamy slammed over video of 'conning' Trump supporter to vote for him

DES MOINES, IOWA: GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing intense backlash after a video surfaced showing him using manipulative tactics to secure votes from a Donald Trump supporter.

The clip, shared on X by user @dom_lucre, has ignited a firestorm of criticism against Ramaswamy, who had been positioning himself as a staunch supporter of the former president. The footage in question shows Ramaswamy discussing the prospect of Trump being "eliminated" by the powers that be.

"It is sad but it's the truth," Ramaswamy says. "So I'm asking you to do your part." The Trump supporter then expresses fear for the future of the country, and concedes, "We need people like you: Young, vibrant..." when Ramaswamy interjects, "And that's how our founding fathers were. It is 1776 again at this moment."

He then asks for her support at the Iowa caucuses, to which she responds, "You're picking at my shell, but I've got this..." Ramaswamy interjects once again, whispering, "It's about this country. You want to save Trump, you vote for me."

Social media backlash against Ramaswamy

The strategic use of Trump's name has led many to question the ethics of Ramaswamy's campaign. Criticism flooded in, even from Trump supporters who had previously applauded Ramaswamy's unwavering support for the former president.

"Soft whispers are the sound of a snake!!" one posted on X.

"Vivek is a con man. I so much like Vivek and I have been his big fan because he supports Trump. This is heartbreaking," another lamented.

"This video is absolutely damning of Vivek. He sounds like a used car salesman trying to sell a customer something they don’t actually want because he can see they’re lost. I was worried about seeing something like this surface about Vivek and now my worries have been realized," someone else chimed in.

"This is sick and wrong. Yet, he is running a campaign just like the rest. It shows he needs to use another to bolster himself," another offered.

Trump's criticism of Ramaswamy

Last week, Trump himself took to Truth Social to condemn Ramaswamy for the first time. "A vote for Vivek is a vote for the ‘other side’ — don’t get duped by this,” Trump cautioned, adding that Ramaswamy is "not MAGA." Trump directly criticized the biotech entrepreneur turned GOP candidate, signaling a significant shift in their previously amicable relationship.

The tension escalated with the distribution of campaign t-shirts bearing the slogan “Save Trump, Vote Vivek.”

Trump's response was swift and unyielding. In a post reacting to a picture of Ramaswamy posing with supporters in Iowa wearing the controversial shirts, Trump declared, "Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the best President in generations,' etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks."

Trump advisor Chris LaCivita joined in, branding Ramaswamy as a "FRAUD" and a "FAKE." These accusations came at a critical juncture, just days before the Iowa caucuses, where the 45th POTUS aims to secure a resounding victory and solidify his position as the GOP frontrunner, Vanity Fair reported.

Despite the controversy, recent polling data from NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom shows Ramaswamy polling at 8 percent among likely Iowa caucusgoers, a notable increase from 5 percent in December.

Trump, however, remains the top choice for just under half of the state's GOP electorate, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailing behind.

In response to the mounting criticism, Ramaswamy defended his unwavering support for Trump. "I respect the hell out of Trump. He’s the best President of the 21st century," he asserted in a statement to Politico.

Ramaswamy highlighted his amicus brief filed in support of Trump's appeal of the Colorado ruling, reiterating his commitment to keeping himself off primary ballots where Trump has been disqualified. "But OPEN YOUR EYES to the hard TRUTH: this system will stop at nothing to keep this man away from the White House," he added.

In a video posted on X, Ramaswamy further expounded on his views, alleging a broader conspiracy within "the system" to narrow the field to a Trump-Haley matchup.

He warned of a puppet regime being foisted upon the American people, stating, “They’re selling us a rope today that they’re going to use to hang us tomorrow.”