Vivek Ramaswamy Criticizes New York City’s Deal with Roosevelt Hotel, Owned by Pakistan Government
Islamabad:Indian-American entrepreneur and newly appointed U.S. Secretary nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has harshly criticized New York City’s agreement to lease the Roosevelt Hotel, a property owned by the Pakistani government. His remarks came after reports revealed that the New York City government has been using the hotel to house illegal immigrants, with taxpayers indirectly financing a foreign government’s property.
In a post on social media platform ‘X,’ Ramaswamy claimed, “A hotel owned by the Pakistani government, funded by taxpayers for illegal immigrants, means New York City taxpayers are effectively paying a foreign government to house illegal aliens in their own country. This is madness.”
Ramaswamy’s comments were in response to a post by American author John Liffey, who had stated that New York City was paying $220 million in rent for the Roosevelt Hotel. This agreement was reportedly part of a deal to help Pakistan avoid default through a $1.1 billion IMF bailout package.
However, Ramaswamy’s claim regarding the Roosevelt Hotel was misleading, as the New York City government was not only using the Roosevelt for housing but had signed contracts with over 100 other hotels, both large and small, owned by various foreign governments and companies, including the Indian Taj Group and Air India. These contracts were aimed at addressing the need for 14,000 rooms to accommodate illegal immigrants.
Ramaswamy’s statement created the impression that New York City was directly paying the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)-owned Roosevelt Hotel $220 million in rent. In reality, the $220 million refers to a three-year lease agreement made last year, under which PIA would receive only $18 million in investment during the course of the deal.
### **Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?**
Vivek Ramaswamy was born in 1985 in Ohio to immigrant parents from Kerala, India. His father, V. Ganapathy Ramaswamy, an engineer and former patent attorney for General Electric, and his mother, a psychiatrist, both have notable academic backgrounds.
Ramaswamy attended Harvard University, where he served as president of the Harvard Political Union. In 2014, he founded Roivant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company, and has since built a reputation as a successful entrepreneur. As of August 2023, Forbes reported his net worth at $950 million.
Ramaswamy made his political debut in February 2024, announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for U.S. President in the upcoming election. His critical stance on U.S. foreign policy and his high-profile comments on national issues have garnered significant attention.
This recent controversy has added to his growing political profile, especially as he continues to shape his political identity ahead of the 2024 presidential race.
