WATCH: Vivek Ramaswamy Gets Candid in Interview with BabylonBee CEO; “Racist Meme”

On Friday, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sat down with Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon.

During the unfiltered interview, Vivek talked about giving his full support to President Trump, Nikki Haley’s disastrous campaign, election integrity, social media censorship, and more.

Vivek also shared his true feelings about the Babylon Bee’s viral, controversial ‘7-11 joke’ targeted at him…

After Vivek dropped out of the GOP race following Trump’s victory in the Iowa caucus, the satirical Babylon Bee website ran a joke story about Vivek with the headline, Trump Promises Vivek An Administration Position Running The White House 7-Eleven.

Trump Promises Vivek An Administration Position Running The White House 7-Eleven https://t.co/1cYOX4IWUx pic.twitter.com/SojL5OZDAj

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) January 16, 2024

Here’s an excerpt from that comedic piece:

Following former President Donald Trump’s landslide victory in the Iowa Primary and immediate concession by GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump offered an olive branch by promising the billionaire entrepreneur a cabinet position running the White House 7-Eleven convenience store.

“I’ve always said Vivek was a great man, one of the greatest men, to be honest,” said Trump during a victory speech. “That’s why I’ve graciously offered him this incredible opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to run our big, beautiful White House convenience store. It’s a tremendous, wonderful place.”

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“Under Biden, the White House doesn’t even have a 7-Eleven. Not good! We’re going to bring convenience back to the West Wing!”

Trump went on to say that he’ll work closely with Ramaswamy every day when he takes office, stopping by the official 7-Eleven store located in the halls of the West Wing several times a day for a Diet Coke and “one of those delicious warmed-up cheeseburgers under the hot light thingies.”

Social media users criticized the Babylon Bee over the joke piece for stereotyping Ramaswamy’s Indian descent.

As The New York Post reported:

Critics on social media accused the Babylon Bee of promoting racist stereotypes about Indians with the fake news item.

“I like the Bee, but this was kind of in poor taste,” Nick Dumitru wrote on his X social media account.

Another X user wrote: “Low blow from Babylon Bee.”

“Not your best work,” another X critic wrote.

Others, however, urged naysayers to lighten up.

Matt Walsh, the right-leaning podcaster, joked: “Just reported this account to the FBI for hate crimes.”

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Another X user wrote: “Come on guys. I’m Indian and get those jokes all the time. It’s a joke! Relax! It’s all good.”

Yet, Vivek himself didn’t seem too fazed by the joke.

Watch his response, and the full interview, here on X:

Vivek Ramaswamy sits down with Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon to discuss rallying behind Donald Trump, social media censorship, Nikki Haley ruining America, and how he really felt about that one 7-Eleven joke.

Timestamps:
0:08 That 7-Eleven Joke
4:20 Comedy
9:01 DeSantis and Nikki… pic.twitter.com/sUjY80UxdA

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) January 26, 2024