Hours before Vice President Harris took the stage, Vivek Ramaswamy made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention.
Ramaswamy stayed at the convention for a few hours doing interviews.
“I held a conference open to the public, open to the press, earlier today, where I laid out an alternative vision — the vision that not only our party, but the America First movement and Donald Trump stands for — to give voters that choice,” Ramaswamy said to The Hill about his intentions.
“And it was to call on Kamala Harris to offer her own vision. Let’s see if she does it tonight,” he added.
He used the opportunity to admonish Democrats for attempting to relate the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” to Trump, who has repeatedly disavowed it.
“They’ve turned Project 2025 into the equivalent of this boogeyman, like they had of Russian interference in the 2016 election,” Ramaswamy told Blake Burman on NewsNation’s “The Hill.” “That’s what they’re trying to create, this false boogeyman. I think it’s falling flat.”
“The reality is, both candidates have an obligation to tell the people of this country where they actually stand. Donald Trump’s done it,” Ramaswamy said. “You may agree or not, but at least he’s given you clear policy proposals. Kamala hasn’t done it.”
Democrats have brought up the plan repeatedly during their convention, but details of their own policy agenda have been sparse.
Ramaswamy also said he had spent time visiting with the protesters in Chicago.
“The beauty of this country is you get to express your opinion, whether or not I agree with it, you get to express your opinion. That’s what a lot of the protesters outside were doing,” Ramaswamy said.
“And you know what? We’re not in this just to lead the people who agree with us. We’re in this to lead an entire country, and that’s what I wanted to show by being here, is we believe in open debate,” he said. “We can do it respectfully. You can do it peacefully.”
