In a bold move of solidarity with former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has withdrawn his name from the Colorado primary ballot. Ramaswamy, an esteemed entrepreneur and Republican firebrand, expressed his disappointment in other GOP candidates for not following his lead. He called the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to remove Trump from the ballot an "unconstitutional and flagrant violation" of the election process in the United States.

Ramaswamy, joined by his wife Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, appeared on Fox News' Maria Bartiromo's show to explain his decision and discuss the importance of the young vote. He argued that if all Republicans in the Colorado GOP primary also chose to withdraw, it would render the court's decision meaningless. Ramaswamy specifically called on Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis to join him in pulling their names from the ballot.

Although no other candidates have pledged to remove their names, some of Trump's rivals in the 2024 GOP primary have shown solidarity with him in different ways. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the decision as a tactic to solidify support for Trump in the primary. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley emphasized the role of voters in making decisions, rather than judges. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie stated that he believes Trump should be prevented from becoming president through the electoral process, not by a court decision.

The Colorado Supreme Court's ruling stemmed from the former president's conduct during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The court cited the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the Disqualification Clause, as the grounds for disqualifying Trump from the primary ballot. The ruling is currently stayed until January 4, allowing time for Trump's team to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision by the Colorado Supreme Court has drawn both support and criticism. Die-hard anti-Trump Republicans, as well as some of his fellow 2024 GOP rivals, have come to his defense. Nonetheless, there are disillusioned Republicans who believe the decision is an overreach of judicial power. Former Attorney General Bill Barr, who had a falling out with Trump over the 2020 election results, called the ruling "legally wrong and untenable." Former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger expressed mixed feelings, recognizing the politics involved but also emphasizing the importance of the Constitution. Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich criticized the partisan nature of the court and called the decision "pure partisan ridiculous stuff."

While most Democrats celebrated Trump's disqualification from the ballot, there have been some voices expressing concern about the decision. Presidential candidates Dean Phillips and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. both questioned the banning of Trump without a conviction and called for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter.

The ruling against Trump is currently stayed until January 4, when his team is expected to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. If the decision stands, Republicans in Colorado have hinted at transitioning to a caucus system. The Colorado primary is scheduled for March 5.