GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pledges to pardon Trump, dismantle FBI, administrative state

"When the Department of Justice weaponizes police force against people based on their political viewpoints, that already undermines trust in the justice system," Ramaswamy said when asked if his plans to dismantle government institutions like the FBI could cause lasting damage.

"Under my watch, we'll make sure the FBI, first of all, doesn't exist as an institution."

"When you have large bureaucracies that sit in between [local and federal law enforcement agencies] ... that's a formula for corruption."

Ramaswamy said his position opposing the FBI "going after political conservatives like President Trump" was not motivated by his own political calculus, since he would "have a much easier time, frankly, in this election, if President Trump weren't in the race."

The FBI is not the only agency on Ramaswamy's chopping block.

"By the time I'm [out of office] we will again have three branches of government in the U.S., not four. That will shut down the regulatory state," he said, focusing particularly on the "shackling" of the U.S. energy sector.

"There are two genders. God is real. Fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity," Ramaswamy said, naming some fundamental tenets he espouses, but says some in the GOP dare not speak aloud. He added that expressing his position on fossil fuels got him censored on Microsoft-owned LinkedIn.

Ramaswamy did not express any particular concern over those who find his own and former President Trump's use of the phrase "American nationalist" troublesome.

"It means we stand for the ideals that set this nation into motion ... meritocracy, the pursuit of excellence, the rule of law, free speech and open debate, self governance," he said, defending the use of the phrase some find controversial.

Ramaswamy, a millennial, said he was concerned that American youth are no longer proud to be American. The solution, in Ramaswamy's view, is to focus on reviving civic pride in the next generation.

A piece in National Review April 10 accused Ramaswamy of "building a ginormous mailing list" rather than actually running for president, also suggesting he "doesn't quite know" about conservatism, though he speaks of it eloquently.

"That's laughable," he said, adding that he had put more than $10 million of his own money into his campaign so far.

"The idea that this is profitable for me is actually a joke."

Ramaswamy rounded out the interview by warning businesses against wading into social disputes, citing the recent issue that sent Bud Light spiraling.

"It's bad for our civic culture in our country because what we need are apolitical spaces that bring people together ... Woke capitalism is bad for capitalism, but it's also bad for American democracy."

Watch Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's interview with "Fox News Sunday's" anchor Shannon Bream below.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!