AURN News with Ebony McMorris

Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Spews More Racist Remarks

Ebony McMorris
September 21, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is facing backlash again for racially charged comments that have sparked a firestorm of criticism.

Ramaswamy compared Representative Ayanna Pressley to modern day grand wizards of the Ku Klux Klan and made derogatory remarks about the U.S. education system and single mothers in inner cities. His rhetoric has drawn comparisons to former President Donald Trump.

Despite his controversial remarks, Ramaswamy has been rising in the polls, posing a real threat to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. However, experts argue that his comments do not resonate with Black voters.

This combination of photos shows Republican presidential candidates, top row from left, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former president Donald Trump, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and bottom row from left, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vivek Ramaswamy. With less than a month to go until the first 2024 Republican presidential debate, eight candidates say they have met the qualifications for a podium slot. But that also means that about half of the broad GOP field is running short on time to make the stage. (AP Photo)

Ramaswamy’s campaign claims that he speaks for all Americans and refuses to bow to identity politics. But critics argue that his comments are not only racist but dangerous, raising concerns about the potential for violence against elected officials and the perpetuation of systematic issues faced by Black and brown communities.

Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris is a native Washingtonian and University of South Carolina alumna. Her passion is mentoring young adults by teaching community empowerment and media education. She is an NAB member and board member of the Thurgood Marshall Center and was presented the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of community service under the Obama Administration.