Vivek Ramaswamy, known for his controversial comments and bold political stances, found himself at the center of online ridicule after a slip of the tongue outside Donald Trump’s New York hush-money trial in May. According to ABC News, after Ramaswamy ended his own presidential bid in January 2024 and quickly endorsed Trump, he has been vocal in his support for the former president, often criticizing the Biden administration’s actions.
While addressing the media outside the Manhattan courtroom, Ramaswamy’s comment sparked immediate attention. As reported by The Recount, he said, “God bless our country. I pray for our future, and let’s pray for our country being stronger on the other side of this disgusting sham politician,” before quickly correcting himself to say “prosecution” instead of “politician.”
However, the gaffe didn’t go unnoticed, with social media users eagerly pointing out the irony. On X (formerly Twitter), users wasted no time in reacting. User @JaredRyanSears commented, “Really hurts the narrative when the truth slips out like that,” while @DianneCallaha16 added, “Yes Vivek, Trump is a sham politician.” Another user, @AreMond2, chimed in, “Funny how fate forces you to make errors that are closer to the truth.”
Some users even joked that Ramaswamy’s initial choice of words was more accurate, with @QuentinJKenned1 quipping, “Nah Vivek, you had it right the first time.” Prior to his court appearance, Ramaswamy shared his criticism of the trial in a tweet, calling it a “politically motivated assault” against Trump, allegedly orchestrated by the Biden administration.
He pointed fingers at Matthew Colangelo, Biden’s former number three at the Department of Justice, now involved in the prosecution under Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Ramaswamy described the trial as an “insult to American democracy,” adding, “The irony here is that the crime is supposedly about bad bookkeeping, but the real scandal is Judge Merchan’s family being paid millions by Democratic operatives.”
Ramaswamy’s comments reflect the sentiments of several other prominent Republicans. As reported by TIME, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator J.D. Vance were also present at the trial, voicing support for Trump and condemning the legal proceedings.
Johnson described the trial as “politically motivated” and a “disgrace,” while Vance went further, claiming, “Every single person involved in this prosecution is practically a Democratic political operative.” As Ramaswamy and other GOP figures continue to publicly criticize the trial as election interference, the incident highlights the intensified political divide and the fervent support for Trump among his allies in the face of legal battles.