Vivek Ramaswamy withholds 'friendly fire' after Trump attack: 'I'm not going to criticize him'

Vivek Ramaswamy responded to Donald Trump's scathing personal attack, saying that he would not return his comments with "friendly fire" or criticize the former president, but warned voters to "open their eyes."

"Yes, I saw President Trump’s Truth Social post. It’s an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don’t think friendly fire is helpful," Ramaswamy wrote in a late Saturday X post.  

"Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack," the biotech multimillionaire continued.

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Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in support of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain on state ballots. (Getty Images)

The "America first" campaigner, who has long been complimentary of the former president, defended Trump's accusations that he was "not MAGA" arguing that he has "defended him at every step."

"I’m worried for Trump. I’m worried for our country. I’ve stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and I’ve defended him at every step," Ramaswamy said. 

"I showed up at the Miami courthouse in solidarity following his first federal indictment. I filed a FOIA demand to the Biden DOJ. I submitted an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on them to overturn Colorado’s ruling," Ramaswamy continued. "I pledged to remove myself from Maine’s & Colorado’s primary ballots if they remove Trump, calling on DeSantis and Haley to do the same."

Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during a campaign stop at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library on January 11, 2024 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event at the Thunder Bay Grille on January 13, 2024 in Davenport, Iowa.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Ramaswamy continued, attacking presidential candidate Nikki Haley, calling her the left's "puppet" and encouraging voters to "open their eyes."

"But we have to open our eyes. Last time it was a man-made pandemic & Big Tech election interference," he wrote. 

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"Now, the same billionaires funding the lawsuits against Trump are the ones trying to prop up Nikki Haley. The same MSM blasting Trump is lavishing praise on Nikki," Ramaswamy said. "They want to narrow this to a two-horse race between Trump & Haley, eliminate Trump (one way or other), & trot their puppet into the White House."

"We can’t fall for that trap. 1 year from now, we won’t look back and say we were shocked that it happened. We’ll kick ourselves for not stopping it," he said.

Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to hold a "tele-rally" at the Hotel Fort Des Moines on January 13, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The GOP presidential candidate concluded his response by arguing that his "America First" movement did not start in 2016, but in 1776.

"Our movement must live on. America-First didn’t start in 2016. It started in 1776," Ramaswamy said. "We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do the right thing for our country. I want to save Trump & to save this country. Let’s do it together."

"You won’t hear any friendly fire from me," he said.

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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Ramaswamy's campaign spoke about the potential of Trump being removed from the presidential ballot.

"Just because it’s wrong doesn’t mean it won’t happen & we owe it to our nation to take America-First forward," Ramaswamy's campaign said.

Vivek Ramaswamy, chairman and co-founder of Strive Asset Management and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa, US, on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. (Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ramaswamy's lengthy statement came after Trump and his team made direct, public attacks against the pharmaceutical entrepreneur.

"Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, ‘the best President in generations,’ etc.," Trump wrote in a Saturday evening Truth Social post. "Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Very sly."

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Trump said that Vivek is "not MAGA" and encouraged his supporters to not get "duped." 

"A vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side' — don’t get duped by this. Vote for "TRUMP," the former president said. "Don’t waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA."

Nikki Haley's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.