Vivek Ramaswamy criticized Republicans for their "selective moral outrage" at the mass terrorist attacks in Israel, and argued that politicians calling for a stronger military response against Hamas and Iran are driven by donor money.
The Republican presidential candidate questioned why his GOP opponents are not expressing similar outrage about the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and accused them of "ignoring the interests of the U.S. right here at home." Specifically, Ramaswamy, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, equated the influx of fentanyl over the southern border—a "genocide," in Carlson's estimation—with Hamas's attack against Israel.
"The selective nature of ignoring certain other conflicts—even more importantly, ignoring the interests of the U.S. right here at home—is what irritates the heck out of me," Ramaswamy told Carlson.
"It is shameful. And I think that there are, frankly, financial and corrupting influences that lead them exactly to speak the way they do, that's just the hard truth," he added.
Ramaswamy, who is polling at 5.9 percent in the RealClearPolitics average, added that there is "no level of moral outrage" about this "incursion right here at home" and argued that many other conflicts around the world are covered up by the U.S. press and deep-pocketed lobbyists. "Azerbaijan has a lobby, a powerful lobby in Washington D.C."
"You only hear about [foreign conflicts] in certain selective cases that the media and the existing establishment and both parties deem fit for the American public," he said.
Ramaswamy’s comments come as Republican lawmakers have expressed support for a strong Israeli military response against Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist group. His remarks also come as he has faced criticism for his position on aid to Israel, which he has said he supports ending by 2028 under certain conditions.
Ramaswamy told Carlson that he is open to providing "limited military support" for Israel by sending weapons but slammed his opponents for calling for a stronger military response against Iran and "refus[ing] to take the option of ground troops off the table."
The candidate said the "Lindsey Grahams or the Nikki Haleys or the John Boltons, or, you know, other people of this persuasion" support military interventions because of "money."
"Some people do have ideological commitments that are outdated but earnest, but a lot of it comes down to money, the corrupting influence of super PACs on the process," said Ramaswamy.