GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy dominated the GOP debate and then went on to face off with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade in a heated interview that the network abruptly cut short. Ramaswamy’s strong performance in the debate, particularly his confrontations with former neo-con UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, caught the attention of the corporate media and rattled the establishment.
During the interview on Fox and Friends, co-host Lawrence Jones questioned Ramaswamy about his attacks on Haley, to which Ramaswamy responded calmly. However, when Kilmeade joined the conversation, tensions quickly escalated. Kilmeade expressed his dissatisfaction with Ramaswamy’s policy on Ukraine and Russia, which he called “ridiculous.” Ramaswamy’s call for a peace deal between the two nations with consequences for both sides did not sit well with neo-cons who prefer a perpetual war to benefit the military-industrial complex.
The interview took a confrontational turn when Kilmeade directly questioned Ramaswamy’s stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine and whether he believed that Vladimir Putin would agree not to ally with China. Ramaswamy emphasized the need for America to play “hardball” with Russia and impose “serious consequences” if they violated the peace deal. Kilmeade’s interruptions and insistence on withdrawing assistance and giving up Eastern Europe led to a fiery exchange between the two.
Ramaswamy stood firm, advocating for a “maximum pressure” campaign and highlighting the need to redress the Russia-China alliance. This sparked further conflict as Kilmeade expressed his belief that giving up Eastern Europe was in America’s interests, and Ramaswamy countered by pointing out flaws in current U.S. foreign policy that were driving Russia and China closer together.
The debate continued with Kilmeade accusing Ramaswamy of appeasement and questioning his willingness to give up Eastern Europe. Ramaswamy responded by criticizing the corrupt use of American taxpayer money by Ukrainian officials and pointing out the lack of accountability for the $200 billion that had been provided to Ukraine. The segment further intensified as Kilmeade ludicrously claimed that the Ukrainians were the best fighters in the world, challenging Ramaswamy’s criticisms of Ukraine by calling him “naive.”
Ramaswamy fired back, defending his understanding of the situation and highlighting Ukraine’s involvement in numerous assassinations. The two men clashed over U.S. involvement in Ukraine, with Ramaswamy revealing details from Tucker Carlson’s report on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s threats to send American troops to Ukraine if further aid packages were not provided. Kilmeade attempted to cut the segment short while Ramaswamy was still speaking, but co-host Lawrence Jones intervened and shut down the interview.
The intense exchange between Ramaswamy and Kilmeade showcased the GOP candidate’s willingness to challenge establishment talking points and his commitment to bringing a fresh perspective to American foreign policy. While the interview was cut short, Ramaswamy’s performance demonstrates his readiness to take on the status quo and provide a bold, alternative vision for the future of U.S. international relations.
