Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy finds himself in the midst of controversy as he alleges that he was asked to pay the right-leaning cable news channel Newsmax for airtime. According to sources, Chris Ruddy, the head of Newsmax, conveyed to Ramaswamy that purchasing television ads would result in more prominent coverage during prime time.
Ramaswamy, a former biotechnology executive, reportedly contacted Ruddy earlier this summer to express his dissatisfaction with the network’s allocation of airtime, often relegating him to less-watched midday slots or ignoring him altogether. Ruddy’s response, according to sources, was to advise Ramaswamy to follow the example of another candidate, Perry Johnson, who secured more coverage through purchasing ads.
Newsmax, however, vehemently denies Ramaswamy’s claim. A Newsmax spokesperson asserted that any insinuation of quid pro quo involving ad purchases for editorial visibility is “categorically untrue and incorrect.” The spokesperson emphasized that there is no direct correlation between advertising and editorial coverage for any candidate on Newsmax.
The spokesperson further clarified that political advertising is a standard practice across media outlets, and candidates can choose to reach the audience beyond programming through advertisements. The spokesperson also highlighted that Newsmax had offered airtime to Ramaswamy following his presidential candidacy announcement.
Newsmax maintained that it consistently covered a range of candidates, both major and minor, regardless of whether they spent money on the network’s advertising. The spokesperson cited examples such as Mike Pence and Nikki Haley, who had received coverage even without advertising on Newsmax.
The allegations come at a pivotal time for Ramaswamy, who has unexpectedly surged in the Republican presidential field’s rankings. As he gears up for the first primary debate alongside other GOP hopefuls, including front-runner Donald Trump, the controversy surrounding his claim adds an unexpected twist to his campaign.
