Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy He met with Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of Fox News parent Fox Corp., in late April in New York, according to two people familiar with the meeting who were not authorized to discuss private events.
One person described it as a “getting to know you” session and said Murdoch often meets with rising political figures.
Murdoch’s meeting with Ramaswamy came at a tumultuous time at Fox Corp., which parted ways in late April with star host Tucker Carlson and weeks before settled a defamation suit for a billion dollars from Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million.
Ramaswamy has been a frequent guest on Fox News and was a long time regular guest on Carlson’s show. After Carlson left Fox News, Ramaswamy he said Politician Carlson should consider entering the 2024 race, saying, “I think he would be a good addition.”
While Murdoch has not commented on the Republican contest, several Fox Corp media outlets. have criticized the former president, including one editorial in The Wall Street Journal with the headline, “Trump is the Republican Party’s biggest loser.”
Ramaswamy’s meeting with Murdoch is the latest in a series of behind-the-scenes talks the billionaire businessman has held with top conservative leaders and business executives as he seeks the Republican nomination and makes appearances in swing states anticipated as a dynamic, 37.-year-old contender who is in step with former President Donald Trump’s supporters.
The New York Times pointed out this month, Ramaswamy recently dined with three of the GOP’s billionaire financiers: Steve Wynn, Ike Perlmutter and Thomas Peterffy.
Even as Ramaswamy gains traction, Trump has so far not made him a political target.
A longtime Trump associate told CBS News on Friday that Trump “sees Vivek being out there as a way to make everything a little more awkward for [Ron] DeSantis.” Ramaswamy has shrill comments on DeSantis, saying the Florida governor, who is expected to jump into the 2024 race in the coming days, “doesn’t have what it takes” to be an effective leader and is “deeply insecure.”
“I’m thrilled to see Vivek Ramaswamy is doing so well in the latest CBS YouGov Republican primary poll,” Trump wrote in a social media post earlier this month. “He’s tied with Mike Pence and looks like he’s on his way to catch Ron DeSanctimonious. What I love about Vivek is that he only has good things to say about ‘President Trump’ and everything the Trump administration has done with so much success. “That’s why she’s doing so well. Anyway, good luck to everyone, they’re going to need her!”
A spokesman for Fox Corp. declined to comment.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for Ramaswamy, declined to comment.
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