Vivek Ramaswamy confronts Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst on Israel
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, had a tense exchange with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who has criticized his comments on the conflict.
Vivek Ramaswamy confronted Sen. Joni Ernst over her criticism of his position on Israel at an Iowa political fundraising event last Friday, according to two sources who witnessed the tense exchange and video obtained exclusively by NBC News.
The two politicians ran into each other as Ernst, R-Iowa, was exiting a podcast studio at Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' "Triple MMM Tailgate” fundraiser and Ramaswamy was heading in. Ramaswamy shook Ernst's hand and held onto it for most of a minute as he aired his frustration.
"You might want to understand my Israel policy before commenting," said Ramaswamy, who was upset about Ernst's remarks at a panel discussion on foreign policy in New Hampshire a week earlier. "I'd be glad to talk to you, because I heard you had some perspectives."
As both smiled through their tough talk, Ernst said: "Well, I was asking, what is your policy?"
Ramaswamy, a political newcomer who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, has come under heavy fire from fellow Republicans for an interview he did with conservative pundit Tucker Carlson this month that touched on America's interest in the war between Israel and Hamas.
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