GOP's Ramaswamy Gets Grilled On Air For Defending Trump But Says Would've Handled Jan. 6 Events 'Very Differently'

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has come forward to defend the actions of former President Donald Trump despite expressing disapproval of some of his deeds.

What Happened: In a recent interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Ramaswamy was grilled by Former White House Communications Director George Stephanopoulos about his decision to back Trump, even though he disagreed with a significant portion of the former president’s behavior.

Ramaswamy made clear that while he did not approve of Trump’s actions related to the 2020 election, which led to criminal charges, he did not believe that Trump should face legal repercussions for such actions.

He differentiated “bad behavior” from “illegal behavior” and warned that merging the two could lead to a “long downward slide as a country.”

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"I would have handled that situation very differently than Trump did," Ramaswamy said of the Jan. 6 events, adding, "But I do draw a distinction, George, between bad behavior and illegal behavior. And once we start conflating those two things, I think we're in a long downward slide as a country."

Why It Matters: In the polls for the 2024 presidential race, Ramaswamy is a leading GOP candidate, though lagging behind Trump. Like Trump, Ramaswamy, an investor and political newcomer, is financing his own campaign, projecting himself as a young, articulate conservative capable of carrying out the former president’s vision.

Ramaswamy’s stance towards Trump has been consistent. He previously downplayed the significance of other GOP presidential candidates, stating that only he and Trump mattered in the race.

He also criticized GOP members who celebrated Trump’s legal setbacks in Georgia, arguing they should convince voters of their vision instead of cheering the legal troubles of a former party leader.

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