Just days ahead of the Iowa Caucuses, former President Trump launched his first public attacks against Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump and his campaign maligned Ramaswamy as a "fraud," who does not represent the MAGA movement. Ramaswamy had been extremely supportive of Trump, and often slammed other Republican challengers.

Trump delivered a scathing critique of Ramaswamy in a post shared on the Truth Social platform.

"Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, ‘the best President in generations,’ etc,” Trump said on Saturday night. “Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the ‘other side’ — don’t get duped by this."

"Vote for ‘TRUMP,’ don’t waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA," Trump ranted. "The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!!”

Earlier in the day, Ramaswamy posted a photo on social media of him with six supporters wearing t-shirts with the slogan: "Save Trump, Vote Vivek."

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Chris LaCivita – Trump’s senior campaign advisor – commented on Ramaswamy's photo and stressed that "Trump doesn't need 'saving.'"

LaCivita also called Vivek's campaign a "fraud," and stated: "If you support Donald Trump you sure as hell don't vote for this FAKE."

Ramaswamy responded to Trump's criticisms in a post shared on the X social media platform, and labeled the attack on him as "unfortunate," but refused to go on the offensive against the former president.

"It’s an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don’t think friendly fire is helpful," Ramaswamy began. "Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and I’m not going to criticize him in response to this late attack."

Ramaswamy said he is "worried" that "this 'system' won’t allow Donald J. Trump anywhere near the White House again."

"I’ve stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and I’ve defended him at every step," he continued. "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. 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."

Without naming names, Ramaswamy claimed that "billionaires" are funding the lawsuits against Trump and "trying to prop up Nikki Haley."

He also said that the mainstream media desires a "two-horse race" between Trump and Haley, but will "eliminate Trump (one way or other)" before the 2024 election so Haley can become president.

"Our movement must live on. America-First didn’t start in 2016. It started in 1776," Ramaswamy concluded. "We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do the right thing for our country. I want to save Trump and to save this country. Let’s do it together. You won’t hear any friendly fire from me."

Trump faces 91 felony counts in four criminal cases.

Ramaswamy reportedly has a strategy of staying in the race as long as possible in case Trump drops out, and attempt to convert his supporters.

The Wall Street Journal reported, "Ramaswamy’s plan is essentially to wait it out to take over the former president’s voter base, should the former president become ineligible to run due to his many legal challenges."

According to polling, Trump has enjoyed a comfortable lead over the rest of his Republican challengers. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are battling each other for second place, and Ramaswamy is in fourth place with support in the single-digits.

Ramaswamy said he would consider 10% support in Iowa’s caucus to be a victory.

The Iowa Caucuses kick off on Jan. 15.

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