Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy falsely claims Democratic Party endorses ‘great replacement theory’ at Republican debate

At a Republican presidential primary debate in Alabama, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy made a bold claim that he was the only candidate onstage who would “speak truth to power” and “speak the truth to you.” Ramaswamy asserted that the “great replacement theory” was not just a right-wing conspiracy theory but a basic statement of the Democratic Party’s platform.

The “great replacement theory” is a debunked conspiracy theory that suggests white people of European descent are intentionally being replaced by nonwhite individuals. This theory has been linked to violent attacks around the world, including a tragic incident at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store in 2022.

Immigration and political science experts have refuted Ramaswamy’s claim, stating that there is no evidence to support the idea that the Democratic Party is actively seeking to replace white Americans with nonwhite immigrants. Despite the Democratic Party’s pro-immigrant stance, there is no indication in their historical platforms of endorsing such a theory.

Ramaswamy’s team cited a 2013 Politico article to support his claim, which discussed a potential immigration proposal that would provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. However, experts argue that offering a pathway to citizenship does not align with the “great replacement theory” as suggested by Ramaswamy.

Furthermore, Ramaswamy’s attempt to tie demographic shifts to a sinister replacement plan has been criticized as a paranoid and conspiratorial way of thinking. Demographics are naturally changing worldwide, and equating these shifts to a deliberate replacement strategy is unfounded.

In conclusion, Ramaswamy’s claim that the “great replacement theory” is part of the Democratic Party’s platform has been rated as “Pants on Fire!” by fact-checkers. Despite his assertions, there is no credible evidence to support his statement, and experts have dismissed it as baseless and dangerous rhetoric.