Vivek Ramaswamy Takes On CNN's Abby Phillip In Fiery Townhall Showdown

Throughout the discussion, Phillip repeatedly interrupted Ramaswamy, challenging his views and interpretations of the events surrounding January 6, 2021, commonly referred to as J6.

Phillip attempted to connect Ramaswamy's remarks about the presence of undercover law enforcement informants and personnel in the crowd at J6 to the conviction of one of the men who had been in the Capitol on that day. She questioned whether Ramaswamy was "concerned" that the man would reference his comments during his sentencing.

December 15, 2023

Ramaswamy responded, "If you had told me— it's close to three years ago that January 6, 2021 happened— if you'd told me three years ago back when I was a biotech CEO, not steeped in this world. I was just consuming passive media but was focused on my world of developing medicines. If you had told me that January 6 was in any way an inside job the subject of government entrapment, I would have told you that was crazy talk, fringe conspiracy theory nonsense."

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He continued, "I can tell you now having gone somewhat deep in this: it's not. I mean, the reality is this: we do have a government — first of all, we have to acknowledge that has lied to us systematically over the last several years about the origin of COVID-19. About the Hunter Biden laptop that we were told was false by 51 CIA experts and otherwise before we now know that it was true. You can go straight down the list of Trump-Russia, disinformation, collusion, hoax, all of it. Now we come to January 6. The reality is we know that there were federal law enforcement agents in that field. We don't know how many I think it's shameful—"

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Phillip interrupted Ramaswamy, asserting that there was no evidence to support his claims. Ramaswamy, however, held his ground, stating, "I know that the establishment doesn't approve of this message," which was met with applause from the audience.

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Ramaswamy questioned why the FBI, when pressed by Congress, did not deny the presence of their agents at J6 but instead could not specify the number. He argued that there were multiple informants suggesting their presence and that people were indeed FBI informants.

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Phillip continued to interrupt, but Ramaswamy persisted, stating, "I'm gonna give you hard facts. And if I may, I know this can be a little uncomfortable." He questioned why Congress suppressed footage from J6, releasing only 12 hours of the over 200 hours in existence, including footage showing police firing rubber bullets into the crowd and shooting tear gas.

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Phillip accused him of "cherry picking," to which he responded, "release the whole thing." He accused the FBI of entrapping Americans who were at J6, yet the CNN chyron said that Ramaswamy was claiming J6 was "an inside job."

Ramaswamy drew parallels between the alleged entrapment of J6 protesters and those accused of a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He claimed that FBI agents contacted the men, provided them with funds, and encouraged them to go through with a kidnapping plot they were not up to on their own.

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Ramaswamy concluded, "The government cannot put you up to do something and then charge you with it, that's wrong." Phillip interjected, stating she would not let him "mislead the audience." Ramaswamy retorted, "They've been misled by the mainstream media."