In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has taken aim at Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, labeling him as "not MAGA" and warning his supporters not to vote for him. This public attack comes after Ramaswamy reposted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, featuring himself with Iowa supporters donning t-shirts displaying Trump's mugshot and the message "Save Trump. Vote Vivek."

Trump expressed his disappointment in Ramaswamy's "deceitful campaign tricks" and accused him of disguising his support for the former president. This strained relationship is a stark contrast to earlier statements where Ramaswamy praised Trump and even proposed inviting him as an advisor and mentor.

The controversy appears to stem from Ramaswamy's recent embrace of conspiracy theories associated with Trump, including the debunked idea of the racist "great replacement" theory and claims of Jan. 6 being "an inside job." Ramaswamy argued that Republicans should vote for him instead of Trump due to fears that the "system" - referring to Joe Biden, prosecutors, and Democrats in Congress - is trying to prevent Trump's return to power.

Trump addressed these claims in his response, asserting that the Biden administration will not allow the "Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent" to proceed. He emphasized the importance of staying loyal to the Trump brand, warning supporters against being "duped" by Ramaswamy's campaign.

It is worth noting that Trump's advisers had previously refrained from attacking Ramaswamy, viewing him as an asset that could potentially disrupt the campaign of his rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. However, with DeSantis struggling in the polls against Trump and fellow contender Nikki Haley, Ramaswamy's usefulness to the former president has seemingly diminished.

Ramaswamy has responded to Trump's attack by labeling it an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors. Despite the criticism, he made it clear that he still admires Trump and intends to save him and the country. However, this latest clash with Trump signifies a significant rift in their once-friendly relationship.

As the Iowa caucuses approach, it remains to be seen how Trump's public targeting of Ramaswamy will impact the race. The Republican Party and its supporters are now faced with a divisive choice between two candidates who were once closely aligned but have now become adversaries.