Vivek Ramaswamy draws flak over ‘climate change hoax’ remark

 

Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American millionaire and the youngest Republican candidate in the upcoming US Presidential election, faced criticism for dismissing the climate emergency as a “hoax” during the first GOP debate held last week. The debate, which took place on August 24, saw contenders for the coveted GOP presidential nomination discussing global warming and other climate-related issues. Ramaswamy’s statement, in which he referred to himself as a candidate “not influenced by external interests,” included the assertion that “Climate change is a hoax. More people are suffering due to misguided climate policies than from actual climate change,” as reported by the BBC. His comments were met with disapproval from the audience and were also criticized by fellow GOP member Chris Christie.

In the wake of his controversial remarks, US President Joe Biden labeled Ramaswamy’s words during the debate as “dangerous and irresponsible.” Former Vice-President Mike Pence also took a swipe at Ramaswamy, asserting that he was “out of touch with reality.”

Additionally, Ramaswamy weighed in on carbon emissions, characterizing the government’s anti-carbon agenda as detrimental to the nation’s economy, while still identifying as pro-environment. Notably, this fiercely contested presidential race features another Indian-American candidate as well.