>>> WELCOME BACK. AS AMERICA DEBATES HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO BE PRESIDENT, THE YOUNGEST CANDIDATE THAT'S ANNOUNCED IN THE 2024 FIELD IS CURRENTLY INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO VOTERS. VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS A 37-YEAR-OLD MULTIMILLIONAIRE GRADUATED FROM YALE HIGH SCHOOL. HE MADE HIS FORTUNE IN BIOTECH AND RAN AN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT CALLS ITSELF ANTI-WOKE. A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE, HE PLANS TO START AN ANTI-WOKE CULTURAL MOVEMENT. >> WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A NATIONAL IDENTITY CRISIS. THAT LEAVES A VACUUM IN ITS WAKE AND WHEN YOU HAVE A VACUUM THAT RUNS THAT DEEP THAT IS WHAT POISON FILLS THE VOID. PICK YOUR FAVORITE ONE, WOKISM, TRANSGENDERISM, CLIMATISM, COVIDISM. >> AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY JOINS ME NOW. MR. RAMASWAMY, WELCOME BACK. WELCOME TO SUNDAY "MEET THE PRESS". >> THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, CHUCK. LET ME START WITH THIS LOOK, YOU HAVE ANTI-WOKISM AND THIS IS YOUR POLITICAL IDENTITY AS YOU'VE INTRODUCED YOURSELF TO FOLKS. I GET IT IN THE PRIMARY. WHY ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT THIS MESSAGE CAN WORK IF YOU HAVE THE NOMINATION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. >> I THINK IT'S TRUE FOR ALL AMERICANS. WE ARE ALL HUNGRY FOR A CAUSE HERE IN AMERICA. WE ARE HUNGRY FOR PURPOSE AND MEANS AT A POINT WHEN THE THINGS THAT USED TO FILL OUR HUNGER FOR PURPOSE, PATRIOTISM, FAMILY, HARD WORK, THESE THINGS HAVE DISAPPEARED. SO I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIVE OUR MISSING NATIONAL IDENTITY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AMERICANS HUNGER FOR ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, ANSWERING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN TODAY. YOU ASK PEOPLE MY AGE THAT QUESTION YOU GET A BLANK STARE IN RESPONSE. THAT IS THE VACUUM AT THE HEART OF THE NATIONAL SOUL. I'M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT TO REVIVE THE IDEALS THAT ACTUALLY SET THE NATION INTO MOTION, AND I THINK THAT WILL UNITE THE COUNTRY. >> IT'S INTERESTING. YOUR RHETORIC CAN SOUND UNITING AND YOUR ANSWER JUST NOW, BUT THEN YOU SAY THE FOLLOWING THINS. THE TRANS MOVEMENT HAS BECOME A CULT. WE NEED IT ABANDON CLIMATE RELIGION IN AMERICA AND I FIND THE IDEA OF SYSTEMIC RACISM REVOLTING AND HOW DO YOU SQUARE THOSE STATEMENTS WITH UNIFICATION. THESE ARE DIVISIVE TIMES. THIS IS A POLARIZING TIME. WE ARE PRETTY EVENLY DIVIDED ON THESE CULTURAL ISSUES AND HOW DO YOU UNITE THE COUNTRY WHEN YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY DENIGRATING THE VIEWS OF HALF THE COUNTRY. >> I DON'T THINK I'M DENIGRATING THE VIEWS OF HALF THE COUNTRY AND LET'S TAKE THE TOUCHIEST OF THE SUBJECTS RIGHT NOW, THE TRANS ISSUE. I THINK WHEN A CHILD IS BORN AND SAYS MY GENDER DOES NOT MATCH MY SEX. THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU DISRESPECT THAT PERSON. THAT IS A CRY FOR HELP. I MET WITH TWO WOMEN GOING THROUGH HYSTERECTOMIES AND CHEMICAL INTERVENTION AND TEACHING KIDS WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING INSIDE GOING THROUGH ADOLESCENCE YES, THAT INVOLVES SOME STRUGGLE AND WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE ADULTS ARE AFFIRMING THAT. >> DO YOU TALK TO PARENTS WHO HAVE A KID GOING THROUGH THIS. >> YES. IT'S A DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ACT WITH COMPASSION AND WHAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES AND THAT IS MY MAIN ISSUE ACROSS THE ISSUE LIKE CLIMATE, AND SOLVING THE ACTUAL UNDERLYING ISSUES RATHER THAN WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO SIGNAL YOUR VIRTUE. >> WHAT MAKES IT COMPASSIONATE, THOUGH, TO PASS A LAW THAT DENIES A PARENT MAKING THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE DECISION FOR THEIR KID. THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY CONSERVATIVE AND SMALL GOVERNMENT. >> THERE ISN'T A STATE IN THE UNION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SMOKE A CIGARETTE BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 AND GET A TATTOO, AND A BODY-ALTERING CHANGE THAT A KID MAY REGRET LATER IN LIFE. AFTER 18 YEARS OLD AND YOU ARE FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO AND THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY AND WE WON'T ALLOW CHEMICAL CASTRATION THROUGH PUBERTY BLOCKERS. >> HOW DO YOU KNOW? ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT YOU KNOW THAT GENDER IS AS BINARY AS YOU'RE DESCRIBING IT? ARE YOU CONFIDENT? >> I AM. >> DO YOU KNOW THIS AS A SCIENTIST? >> THERE ARE TWO X CHROMOSOMES IF YOU'RE A WOMAN AND AN X AND A Y. >> THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT SAYS GENDER IS A SPECTRUM. >> I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE, IT HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS A MENTAL DISORDER AND I DON'T THINK IT'S COMPASSIONATE, IT'S KRULT PEP WHEN A KID IS CRYING OUT FOR HELP YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT ELSE IS GOING WRONG AT HOME? WHAT ELSE IS GOING WRONG AT SCHOOL AND LET'S BE COMPASSIONATE AND GET TO THE HEART OF THAT RATHER THAN PLAY THE GAME RATHER THAN CHANGING THE MEDICAL UNDERSTANDING. >> I GO BACK TO THIS, IF A PARENT IS DEALING WITH A CHILD THAT MAY HAVE THESE ISSUES, TRUST ME, THE PARENT -- THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT IF THAT IS WHAT THEY THINK COULD HELP THEIR CHILD PURSUE HAPPINESS OR NOT TO KILL THEMSELVES, I -- WHY TAKE AWAY THAT OPTION? AGAIN, WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE UP TO THE PARENT? >> PART OF WHY PARENTS SUDDENLY NOW FEEL THAT WAY IS WE'VE CREATED A CULTURE THAT TEACHES PARENTS THAT THEY'RE BEING BIGOTED OR BAD PEOPLE IF THEY DON'T ACTUALLY TAKE THOSE STEPS. SO PART OF WHAT I THINK -- LISTEN, GENDER DISFORRIA IS A CONDITION OF SUFFERING. MY QUESTION IS WHY ON EARTH ARE WE GOING OUT OF OUR WAY TO CREATE MORE OF IT AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE CULTURAL MOVEMENT IN THE COUNTRY IS CREATING MORE GENDER DISFORRIA IF IT'S A CONDITION OF SUFFERING, LET'S NOT CREATE MORE. >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE DISNEY WITH RON DESANTIS. ON ONE HAND, I AGREE WITH PUSHING BACK ON DISNEY THE WAY DESANTIS HAS RHETORICALLY, BUT IS THERE A POINT WHEN YOU THINK IT'S TOO MUCH TO USE GOVERNMENT TO PUNISH BUSINESS? >> HERE'S WHERE RON DESANTIS LOST IT HERE? HE'S GONE ON THE WRONG PATH. HE CLAIMED AND THIS PART ACTUALLY SOUNDED GOOD TO ME. DISNEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD CRONY CAPITALIST LOBBYING IN THE FIRST PLACE. HERE'S THE PART HE DIDN'T MENTION. ONE OF THOSE CRONY CAPITALIST PRIVILEGES AND THE MOST RELEVANT ONE WAS CODIFIED INTO LAW BY NONE OTHER THAN RON DESANTIS IN 2021. SO FLORIDA PASSED THIS POLITICAL ANTIDISCRIMINATION STATUTE WHICH I APPLAUDED AT THE TIME, WHICH IF YOU OPERATED STREAMING COMPANIES LIKE DISNEY DOES THAT YOU CAN'T DISCRIMINATE. THEY WROTE A LAST-MINUTE EXEMPTION FOR ANYONE WHO OPERATES A THEME PARK MORE THAN 25 ACRES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT'S CRONY CAPITALIST AND THE IRONY IS RON DESANTIS WHO IS ROLLING THAT BACK WAS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY PASSED THAT INTO LAW FOR THE CASE OF DISNEY. SO I THINK THAT UNDERMINES THE CREDIBILITY OF HIS CRUSADE. I PREFER TO GET TO ROOT CAUSES RATHER THAN DO POLITICAL STUNTS. >> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE IDEA OF CANCEL CULTURE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE CRITICISM THAT THE RIGHT WAS MAKING OF THE LEFT TWO YEARS AGO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SOME ON THE RIGHT ARE EMBRACING CANCEL CULTURE. BUD LIGHT, THE TRANSGENDER REPRESENTATIVE IN MONTANA WHO WAS KICKED ON ON NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON THE FLOOR, DO YOU THINK SOME OF THIS IS GOING TOO FAR? >> I'M A -- CANCEL CULTURE AND VICTIMHOOD. I DO THINK THE WAY THE CULTURE WAR ENDS IS NOT WITH A BANG, BUT WITH A WHIMPER WHERE BOTH SIDES GET AFFECTED BY THE SAME NORMS. >> DO YOU THINK THE RIGHT HAS BEEN AFFECTED. >> WE HAVE TO BE THE PARTY OF FREE SPEECH AND OPEN DEBATE AND NOT THE PARTY OF I'M HERE TALKING TO YOU ON NBC. THERE ARE OTHER CANDIDATES ON IN THE RACE WHO SAY THEY WON'T TALK TO NBC NEWS. RON DESANTIS IS ONE OF THEM. I GO TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES. WE HAVE TO PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH, I'M IN THE RACE AS A MILLENNIAL, AS A YOUNG PERSON WHO LIVES THE AMERICAN DREAM TO WALK THE WALK WHEN IT COMES TO FREE SPEECH AND YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER CANDIDATES RISE TO THE OCCASION AND DO BETTER THIS FALL. >> IF DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T DO DEBATES WILL YOU NOT SUPPORT HIM IF HE'S NOT THE NOMINEE. >> I WON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN. HE CAN DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO. >> I THINK OTHERS LIKE DONALD TRUMP WILL RELISH BEING ON THE STAGE. WHAT PEOPLE GAVE HIM CREDIT FOR WAS THAT HE IS AN OUTSIDER AND DISRUPTOR AND I'M THE OUTSIDER AND IF YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JOE BIDEN IN EXISTING ESTABLISHMENT THAT DOESN'T WANT TO DEBATE. >> WHAT SHOULD THE PARTY USE AS LEVERAGE TO SHOW HIM TO SHOW UP? >> THINK IT'S THE VOTERS AND IT'S MY JOB AND THE JOB OF CANDIDATES THAT IF YOU WANT SOMEONE SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM XI JINPING AND SOMEONE WITH A SPINE TO TAKE ON THE STATE AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA, YOU BETTER NOT BE SCARED TO SHOW UP ON THE DEBATE STAGE WITH DONALD TRUMP. >> YOU WOULD SUPPORT A SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN IF GOVERNOR OF THE STATE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FEDERAL LEVEL? WOULD YOU CREATE A FLOOR? >> I BELIEVE IN BEING PRINCIPLED AND I'M UNAPOLOGETICALLY PRO-LIFE AND I BELIEVE IT IS A FORM OF MURDER. MURDER IS REGULATED BY THE STATES AND NOT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION. I BELIEVE ROE WAS WRONGLY DECIDED AND THIS IS A MATTER FOR THE STATES AND NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> WHEN DOES A FETUS HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS? >> SIX WEEKS AT THE END OF LIFE WHEN YOU LOSE BRAIN WAVES AND THAT'S OUR MOMENT OF DEATH. >> WHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION SAYS SOMEONE HAS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS A FETUS. >> IT'S NOT CODIFIED IN THE CONSTITUTION AND THAT'S WHY IT'S A MATTER FOR THE STATES AND I DO BELIEVE THAT I'M UNAPOLOGETICALLY PRO-LIFE AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO BETTER IS TO WALK THE WALK. PROVIDE A WAY FOR WOMEN TO GET TO YES, I SUPPORT ADOPTION, CHILD CARE AND GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEN AND THAT'S HOW WE TURN THIS ISSUE FROM BEING A DEVICE OF ONE. >> ONE THAT'S A HEAD SCRATCHER IS DEFUND THE FBI. >> I THINK IT'S A NEW APPARATUS THAT RESPECTS THE LAW INSTEAD OF MAKING IT UP. THE FUNNY THING -- >> DO YOU THINK THE FBI CONSTANTLY MAKING UP THE LAW. THAT SAY HUGE LAW. THEY HAVE JUST HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET -- THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THE FBI DOES OTHER THAN RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO DON'T LIKE INVESTIGATIONS. >> IF YOU LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 60 YEARS, J. EDGAR HOOVER WHAT HE DID TO MARTIN LUTHER KING ISN'T A FRONT. IT'S STILL THE J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI THAT PEOPLE WALK DOWN THE STREET IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO RUN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU HAVE A BUREAUCRACY WHOSE CULTURE BES SOME SOS ON PHIED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU NEED TO TURN IT OVER AND YES, YOU NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT INSTITUTION HAS BECOME SO OSSIFIED IN ITS CORRUPTION THAT WE NEED TO BUILD IT FROM SCRATCH. >> SO YOU WILL REPLACE THE FBI WITH A NEW FBI? >> A NEW INSTITUTION TO CARRY OUT THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THE EXISTING FBI AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE HAVE WORKED THERE ARE IF SO LONG THAT THEY'LL BE GETTING IN THEIR OWN WAY IS IMPORTANT. >> IT DOES SOUND LIKE YOU'RE JUST REPLACING THE FBI WITH THE FBI. >> THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE FOR DECADES AND IF I'M THE U.S. PRESIDENT AND I CAN'T WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS WHICH IS
