Vivek Ramaswamy slams Donna Brazile for intentionally mispronouncing his name on Bill Maher's show where the host called longtime Democrat strategist 'racist'

Donna Brazile was accused of racism by comedian and political commentator Bill Maher after she repeatedly and intentionally mispronounced Vivek Ramaswamy's name in the name of comedy and hatred of the 2024 hopeful.

The millionaire biotech entrepreneur questioned how the two-time Democratic National Committee Chairwoman's comments would be interpreted if she were white and a Republican after she demanded he 'go home.'

Ramaswamy, who is Indian-American, has explained that his first name rhymes with 'cake' and is pronounced 'Vi-vake,' after most assumed it was said like 'Vi-veck' after the political newcomer entered the race in February.

Brazile, a longtime Democratic strategist, made light of Maher correcting her pronunciation and continued to make fun of Ramaswamy's name to laughter from the audience of Real Time with Bill Maher.

'Reverse racism is racism,' Ramaswamy's communications director and senior adviser Tricia McLaughlin told DailyMail.com of the recent back-and-forth.

'If that were a white Republican they would be fired and torn to shreds on cable TV,' she added of the hypocrisy. 'Donna will probably get an 'atta boy' from her colleagues. Gross.'

Brazile, alongside former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), said during an appearance on Maher's show while mispronouncing Ramaswamy's name multiple times: 'Vivek needs to just shut the hell up and go home.'

'We all hate Vivek, OK? It's Vi-vake,' Maher said, correcting Brazile on the pronunciation of the 2024 Republican candidate's name after Ramaswamy explained earlier this year how to say it the right way.

'Well whatever. Vi-Vake,' she dismissed, saying his name correctly this time.

'Would you say that about other –' Maher started, but was cut-off by Brazile.

'Donna, I'm Donna. Vi–vake, is it Vie-veck Ramaswama. Ramaswamy,' she said to laughter after she said his first name a different, incorrect way and pronounced his last name wrong this time, too.

'Vi-vake Ramaswamy,' Maher said.

'Thank you so much. I learn so much when I come on this show,' she said, repeating: 'Vi-vake needs to go home.'

'I agree,' Maher conceded. 'I just feel like there's something wrong with everybody refusing to learn to say his name. I just feel there's a little racism there. Just a little –'

'Vi-vake, Vi-vake, I'll say it,' Kinzinger hopped in, finally, over the debate over pronunciation.

'I'm just saying – I know we don't like him, but just say his name right,' Maher said.

He continued: 'I heard him do a rap and he said it rhymes with cake. This is what the CNN audience needs to know.'

Ramaswamy posted the clip to his account on X, formerly Twitter, along with: 'I wonder what they'd do if a white Republican intentionally mispronounced Donna's name & then told her to return 'home.'

Since entering the race, Ramaswamy has been a dark horse in the field all trailing dozens of points behind former President Donald Trump.

The candidate got a large polling boost after the first two presidential debates, but isn't seeing the same surge after the third in Miami, Florida earlier this month. He remains in the top three of the field behind Trump.

Ramaswamy engages in many campaign events every week, often hitting the trail with his surgeon wife Apoorva and their two young sons Karthik and Arjun.

'Love being on the trail with my wife Apoorva and our two boys,' Ramaswamy posted to X on Sunday as he plans a week of events in Iowa – the first primary caucus state.