Vivek Ramaswamy Slams NYC’s $220M Deal With Pak-Owned Hotel

India-West News Desk
NEW YORK, NY – Vivek Ramaswamy criticized reports that New York City is paying $220 million to rent the Roosevelt Hotel, owned by the Pakistani government, to house illegal immigrants, calling the situation “nuts.” In a social media post, Ramaswamy, a Republican and Indian American entrepreneur, expressed outrage over the arrangement. “A taxpayer-funded hotel for illegal migrants is owned by the Pakistani government, which means NYC taxpayers are effectively paying a foreign government to house illegals in our own country. This is nuts,” he wrote.
The Roosevelt Hotel, a 19-story Manhattan landmark named after President Theodore Roosevelt, is owned by Pakistan International Airlines, a state-owned entity. The property, boasting over 1,200 rooms, had been closed for renovations before being leased to New York City to accommodate migrants. Author John LeFevre, who initially reported the arrangement, highlighted that the deal was part of a $1.1 billion IMF bailout package to help Pakistan avoid defaulting on international debt.
Ramaswamy’s reaction comes as he takes on a prominent role in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk, he has been tasked with improving government efficiency and eliminating wasteful expenditures through a newly established Department of Government Efficiency.
Ramaswamy’s criticism echoes growing concerns among conservatives about the management of taxpayer funds and immigration policies. His remarks follow revelations by LeFevre that the city’s financial commitments to the hotel have become a significant burden amid an ongoing migrant crisis.