Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has engaged in a heated exchange with a Washington Post reporter during an event on Tuesday, January 2, exposing what he perceived as bias in the U.S. media towards the Democratic Party.

The exchange took place when the reporter asked Ramaswamy to “condemn white supremacy and white nationalism” in response to an endorsement from former Rep. Steve King.

Ramaswamy, a vocal critic of what he calls the media’s “new religion of modern wokeism,” refused to comply with what he deemed a “silly game of gotcha.”

“I’m not going to recite some catechism for you. I’m against vicious racial discrimination in this country. I’m not pledging allegiance to your new religion of modern wokeism,” Ramaswamy asserted. “Do I condemn vicious racial discrimination? Yes, I do. Am I going to play your silly game of gotcha? No, I am not.”

Ramaswamy accused the media of contributing to the erosion of trust, anticipating headlines that might read, “Vivek Ramaswamy Won’t Condemn White Supremacy.” He argued that such questions perpetuate the divisive nature of mainstream media, asserting, “This is why people have lost trust in the media.”

When pressed about Steve King’s alleged comments on white supremacy, Ramaswamy challenged the credibility of the New York Times, stating, “I’m not one of these people who treat the New York Times as the Bible, I’m sorry, it is not.” He emphasized his trust in King’s word over unverified reports, citing instances where the media allegedly misled the public.

Despite the reporter’s insistence on a clear condemnation of white supremacy, Ramaswamy stood firm, stating, “I’m not going to recite some catechism for you. I’m against vicious racial discrimination in this country.”

Ramaswamy shifted the conversation to what he perceives as a more significant issue— institutionalized racism, particularly through affirmative action.

He encouraged the media to focus on real threats facing the nation rather than magnifying issues that exist at the “infinitesimally small fringe” of society.

The Asian-America, whose parents came from India, also criticized the media for dividing the country and called for accountability to rebuild trust.

He urged journalists to own up to their failures and contribute to uniting the nation.