In Grinnell, Iowa, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign vehicle was targeted by left-wing protesters. The incident occurred on October 5th, during an event where Ramaswamy was engaging with the protesters.
Ramaswamy, who has been vocal about his stance on cutting Ukraine funding, found himself in a heated exchange with the protesters. The disagreement escalated when two of the protesters, aged 22 and 26, rammed their car into Ramaswamy’s parked campaign vehicle before speeding away from the scene.
Protestors confront Vivek Ramaswamy over his stance on Ukraine at Iowa campaign stop.
One protestor would leave to smash their car into Ramaswamy’s.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/QIzPNWDhF1
— AF Post (@AFpost) October 5, 2023
The incident took place outside Saints Rest Coffee House, where Ramaswamy was addressing the crowd. Despite the tense atmosphere, Ramaswamy maintained his composure and continued to engage with the protesters.
He was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident and thankfully, escaped unscathed.
Following the incident, Ramaswamy took to Twitter to share his experience. He stated that while the majority of the protesters were peaceful, the actions of the two individuals who rammed their car into his should not go unnoticed.
He emphasized these two individuals should be held accountable for their actions, but it was important not to tarnish the reputation of the rest of the peaceful protesters due to the behavior of these two bad actors.
The Grinnell Police Department confirmed that they were called to the scene following the property damage incident. However, the campaign could not definitively say whether the act was intentional or not.
Images shared on social media showed the damaged campaign vehicle, further highlighting the severity of the incident.
Vivek Ramaswamy attended a campaign event earlier today & was met by a small group of protestors. He respectfully answered their questions and thanked them for expressing their views even while disagreeing with them. One of the protestors then got into their car, CRASH INTO… pic.twitter.com/7iporNUTro
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) October 5, 2023
Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Ramaswamy remained undeterred. During the event, he expressed his concerns about public schools and even responded to a protester’s question about being the “punching bag of the RNC.”
Ramaswamy responded by stating that he believed both political parties were corrupt, showcasing his commitment to transparency and accountability.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the increasing polarization in our political landscape. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, it is crucial that we remember the importance of maintaining peace and civility, regardless of our political affiliations.
