This article was written by John Gao.

NOTE: Vivek Ramaswamy never officially worked in the Trump administration, but his brief role in Trump’s orbit, and his relationship with the president, make his story essential to understanding this moment.

====================================================================

With the upheaval and rapid changes of Trump’s second term, it’s more important than ever to understand not just the man at the top, but also the team shaping his administration. Beyond Trump himself, there are lesser-known figures at the table whose decisions carry large weight. 

That’s why The AAPI Angle is launching Trailblazers and Trump – a series spotlighting Asian American leaders in his cabinet, their paths to power, and the influence they wield today, while using videos and new writing styles so there’s a story for everyone: from the informed scholar to the aspiring reader.

====================================================================

Vivek Ramaswamy is a man of extraordinary contrasts between who you would expect him to be and who he is – a Hindu Indian-American and Harvard graduate who blames “secular religions like COVID-ism, climate-ism, and gender ideology” for causing a national identity crisis – a man who ran against Donald Trump in 2024, but has been catapulted by the president’s endorsement to become the front-runner in the Ohio governor’s race, and more. But how did a pharma millionaire end up on the debate stage and draw the attention of the president himself? 

Today, we’re going to take a dive into the fascinating “checkpoints” of the Cincinnati Tamil’s road to power: seeing how a competitor to Donald Trump earned the president’s respect and a role at DOGE, looking at his fiery moments during the presidential run, and more!

First, we dug out Vivek’s ID – here’s some basic information about him.

Now, let’s get into the five critical moments that symbolize his entry into American politics, with captions at the top of each video to give you some critical context.

After years of weighing in from the sidelines, Ramaswamy jumped in for real: announcing his Republican presidential campaign in February 2023. VIDEO SOURCE: Fox Business

His outsider takes and lack of D.C. experience made him a lightning rod, sparking fiery clashes with Haley and Pence in the first GOP debate. VIDEO SOURCE: WSJ and Mojo Story

After early clashes, Ramaswamy shifted from rival to ally, becoming one of Trump’s most vocal defenders. VIDEO SOURCE: Golden State Times

Ramaswamy’s vocal defense of Trump caught his attention, with the president naming Ramaswamy to co-lead DOGE, an initiative to slash bureaucracy and reshape Washington. VIDEO SOURCE: Detroit Free Press

But his time at DOGE was brief. Now, Ramaswamy’s sights are set on Ohio – and a future in politics beyond Trump. VIDEO SOURCE: Fox News

Even though Vivek’s tone, and content, in each of these videos varied greatly, one thing is clear: Ramaswamy represents a new wave of young, outsider conservatives who blend business-friendly policies, fiery rhetoric, and loyalty to populism – and who aim to root out the center-right moderate conservatism that was once the party’s dominant position.