"I still expect that Donald Trump or whoever the Republican nominee will be better than the alternative, and I care about what actually moves this nation forward," Ramaswamy told the ABC News broadcaster when asked why he was going to vote for Trump even in the event of conviction.
Ramaswamy also pledged to pardon Trump if he is elected US president because he believes it may help to reunite the country that split on the issue of an ongoing court trial against the former US leader.
A breakout candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, Ramaswamy, was the only contender at the last week's Republican presidential primary debate who said he would not support providing additional funding to Ukraine. Instead, Ramaswamy proposed a peace treaty that would freeze the current battle lines in Ukraine, respect Russia's position on Crimea, and prevent Ukraine from entering NATO.
Political analysts have suggested that Ramaswamy's showing at the recent debate has made him a credible vice-presidential candidate and a good pick for Trump, who could potentially garner support from minorities and millennials by choosing him as a running mate.