Vivek Ramaswamy contradicted by police who say protester did not ram his car
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Vivek Ramaswamy claimed his car was intentionally crashed into after he was taken to task by a group of protesters during a campaign stop in Iowa.
The 2024 presidential hopeful was filmed engaging with protesters, who objected to his proposals for the US education system, his stance on trans rights and the war in Ukraine.
Mr Ramaswamy later tweeted that two of the protesters “got into their car and rammed it into ours”.
However, police said the car had been struck accidentally by a woman visiting the area who was not connected to the protest.
Mr Ramaswamy and members of his team shared video footage of a woman beeping her horn and sticking the middle finger up at the presidential hopeful before reversing away. He claims this is the same vehicle that “rammed” his parked SUV.
The video does not show a collision taking place.
Photographs published by MailOnline show the rear of Mr Ramaswamy’s rental car damaged by an apparent collision.
In a video believed to have been taken on the same afternoon as the incident, Mr Ramaswamy, 38, can be seen debating with a group of young people about the war in Ukraine.
While engaging with the crowd, he said: “Nato will not admit Ukraine to Nato and should not admit Ukraine.”
He added: “I think the path we are on right now, it is not going to be good for Ukraine, it is not going to be good for America, [and] it is taking us closer to major conflict with Russia that is going to be bad for everybody involved.” He was met by another group of protesters with placards who disagreed with his education proposals.
Mr Ramaswamy has suggested that the federal Department for Education be shut down and that education policy be run by individual states.
One protester said her mother worked in the education system and “deserves to be paid and respected”.
Mr Ramaswamy replied: “I think every person deserves to be respected. The beauty of this country is that you all have the right to express your opinions and you’re doing it peacefully.
“Even though I disagree with you, I’m proud of you for expressing your views.”
Another protester asked the Republican hopeful: “What is it like to be the punching bag of the RNC [Republican National Convention]?”
He replied that he thought both main political parties were “corrupt”.
Following the campaign stop, Mr Ramaswamy tweeted: “Had a civil exchange with protesters today, right before two of them then got into their car and rammed it into ours.”
“These two should be held accountable, but the rest of the peaceful protesters shouldn’t be tarred by the behaviour of two bad actors.”
Rammed by accident
However, a spokesman from Grinnell Police, the local force, said the car was rammed by accident by a woman visiting a nearby restaurant who was not connected to the protest.
“It was reported on social media that two protesters intentionally rammed into Ramaswamy’s vehicle and fled the scene,” the police department said.
“Our investigation has revealed no evidence to substantiate that information.”
The police said the woman did not know who the vehicle she collided with belonged to, and did not flee the scene.
Despite the police statement, the Ramaswamy campaign stands by its version of events.
The latest polls show Mr Ramaswamy is fourth in the Republican primary race, with the support of around four per cent of Republican voters.
He trails Donald Trump, the frontrunner, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley.
