WATCH | ‘I’m a Hindu, I Believe…’: US Presidential Candidate Ramaswamy Tells How Faith Gave Him Freedom – News18

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday said his ‘Hindu’ faith motivated him to launch his presidential campaign. Ramaswamy was addressing the ‘The Family Leader’ forum organised by The Daily Signal platform along with fellow contenders Florida governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.

“My faith is what gives me my freedom. My faith is what led me to this presidential campaign…I am a Hindu. I believe there is one true God. I believe God put each of us here for a purpose. My faith teaches us that we have a duty, a moral duty to realise that purpose. Those are God’s instruments that work through us in different ways, but we are still equal because God resides in each of us. That’s the core of my faith,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy also shared the video of the interaction between him and the panel on his X profile with the caption: “Last night I was asked about my Hindu faith. I answered honestly”.

“I grew up in a traditional household. My parents taught me family is the foundation. Respect your parents. Marriage is sacred. Abstinence before marriage is the way to go. Adultery is wrong. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Divorce is not just some preference you opt for…you get married before God and you make an oath to God and your family,” Ramaswamy told panel moderator Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats.

Family Leader is an influential Christian organisation from Iowa.

Three candidates — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy — sat side-by-side at a festive Thanksgiving table for a “family discussion” in Des Moines.

A report by the Associated Press said that the presidential contenders addressed each other by their first names and at times noted where they agreed. They discussed their foreign policies on Israel, China and the Russia-Ukraine war while focusing on religious liberty and agriculture, but the interactions between them were friendly.

Leading Republican contender former US President Donald Trump did not attend the event.