Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has criticized Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida for his recent comments about those who blindly follow former President Donald Trump. Ramaswamy took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his concerns, calling out what he sees as a danger within the movement.
In his tweet, Ramaswamy stated, “The real danger to our movement is the rise of ‘listless-vessel’ robot politicians who blindly follow the commands of their Super PACs.” This statement directly addressed DeSantis’ recent remarks that a strong movement should be built on principles rather than being comprised of individuals who unquestioningly follow political directives.
DeSantis sparked the conversation when he asserted that a movement cannot be solely centered around one person, referring to Trump. He also defended himself against accusations of being a “RINO” (Republican in name only), dismissing such claims as fabricated. DeSantis emphasized that a durable movement must be rooted in principled actions and decisions, rather than blindly following whatever directives come from sources like Truth Social, a platform launched by Trump.
In response to DeSantis’ comments, Trump’s campaign called for an apology from DeSantis, further emphasizing the concept of “listless vessels.” DeSantis’s press secretary, Bryan Griffin, countered by arguing that the media is not accurately reporting the facts. Griffin suggested that both Trump and some congressional endorsers can be seen as “listless vessels” who believe they are entitled to voters’ support. He underscored DeSantis’s vision, plans, and track record in contrast to Trump’s approach.
Ramaswamy and DeSantis have been engaged in a public exchange of opinions after an opposition research memo from DeSantis’s super PAC, Never Back Down, was made public. The memo recommended aggressive strategies against Ramaswamy in the upcoming Republican debate. The document suggested labeling Ramaswamy as “FakeVivek” or “Vivek the Fake.”
Ramaswamy responded to the memo by asserting that he is focused on his own campaign and refrains from attacking others. During an appearance on Fox News, he highlighted the choice between candidates supported by well-funded super PACs and those who stand independently.
DeSantis distanced himself from the leaked memo, claiming he had never read it and that it was not associated with him. As tensions rise in the lead-up to the Republican debate, both Ramaswamy and DeSantis continue to assert their positions and strategies, highlighting the competitive nature of the political landscape.