Entrepreneur Ramaswamy drops out of White House race, endorses Trump

Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy makes a campaign visit to Machine Shed Restaurant before the Iowa caucus vote in Urbandale, Iowa, U.S. January 15, 2024. REUTERS/Sergio Flores

(Reuters) -Vivek Ramaswamy, a multi-millionaire former biotech executive, ended his White House bid on Monday and endorsed Donald Trump after his longshot bid caught attention but failed to catapult him high enough in the Republican Party's first nominating contest in Iowa.

Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old born in Ohio to immigrant parents from southern India, was one of the surprises of the 2024 Republican race dominated by former President Trump.