Trump praises Vivek Ramaswamy following first Republican primary debate

Former President Donald Trump praised entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy following the first Republican primary debate. 

“This answer gave Vivek Ramaswamy a big WIN in the debate because of a thing called TRUTH. Thank you Vivek!” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social Thursday morning.

The 45th president was referring to a moment on the debate stage where Ramaswamy called Trump the "best president of the 21st Century.”

Ramaswamy was very vocal on the debate stage about the weaponization of the federal government and how his primary opponents need to speak out against what is happening to Trump, who is facing four indictments, two of which were brought by DOJ-appointed special counsel Jack Smith.

"I am running for president of the United States," Ramaswamy said. "We're skating on thin ice. And we cannot set a precedent where the party in power uses police force to indict its political opponents. It is wrong. We have to end the weaponization of justice in this country."  

He further challenged former Vice President Mike Pence to commit to pardoning Trump if elected president.

"We'll give fair consideration to a pardon request," Pence responded. 

Trump was not present at the debate, but instead dropped a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson on X, the platform previously called Twitter.