Conservative author Ann Coulter heaps praise on GOP rising star Vivek Ramaswamy - then tells him she wouldn't vote for him because he's Indian

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter praised former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy but then said she would not vote for him because of his ethnicity.

The hedge fund multi-millionaire had a conversation with the conservative pundit on an episode of his show, The Truth Podcast, to discuss nationalism.

Ramaswamy warmly welcomed Coulter to the show where she returned with praise, calling the Republican rising star 'bright and articulate.'

Coulter said she agrees with Ramaswamy on many subjects, but shocked listeners with her reason for admitting she will not vote for him.

'I agreed with many, many things you said, in fact probably more than most other candidates when you were running for president, but I still would not have voted for you because you're an Indian,' Coulter said.

Ann Coulter (right) told former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy then said she would not vote for him because of his ethnicity and said presidents should be WASPs

Ramaswamy is the 38-year-old son of Indian immigrants who was born in Cincinnati. Pictured with his wife Apoorva Tewari Ramaswamy their two sons

Ramaswamy is a 38-year-old father-of-two who campaigned on wanting to fix America's national identity crisis by ending the 'secular religion' of 'woke-ism.'

He has also been floated as a potential vice president pick for Donald Trump after dropping out of the Republican presidential primary in January. 

Ramaswamy and Coulter agreed they both oppose the idea of dual citizenship, with the former candidate saying the 'essence of citizenship is which nation to whom you had your undivided loyalty.' 

'You and I agree on so much there, but where I—I wouldn't say "lose you"—but I may fail to fully understand you is, on that axis of citizenship, what does ethnicity have to do with the matter,' Ramaswamy said.

Coulter explained she will only vote for presidential candidates who are WASPs — White Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

'There is a core national identity that is the identity of the WASP, and that doesn't mean we can't take anyone else in—a Sri Lankan, a Japanese, or an Indian—but the core around which the nation's values are formed is the WASP,' she said.

'We've never had a president who didn't have at least partial English ancestry, never.'

The constitutional requirements to run for president in the United States are to be a natural-born citizen, be at least 35 years old and have resided in the country for 14 years.

Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, was born in Cincinnati. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 2007 with a degree in biology. He went on to receive a JD from Yale Law School in 2013.

Listeners praised Ramaswamy for how he handled the conversation and slammed Coulter for her comments, calling them 'racists.'

'This interview, the way Vivek handled himself and continued the interview, shows the magnanimous man he is,' said Kim Carrico-Stephens on X.

'Ann Coulter you're an abhorrent racist! Vivek is America First, will not be bullied, strong class act of a human.'

'Vivek showed extreme class when Coulter stated flat out because of his race she would not vote for him,' said Eric Pistey.

'He kept the conversation going and never fell into an offended or victim mentality. Well done by him.'

Others commented that Coulters views are outdated and said it damages her reputation.

'She is a typical boomer-mentality-lady, you just listen to them, nod and go on with your life,' said Mayra Smith.

'Why does she continue to fly into the reputation bug zapper,' said Eric Stoner.