Indian-American Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy, a candidate for Ohio Governor in 2026, has declared a personal moratorium on social media. Announcing his resolution on Monday, the GOP figure stated he has deleted major platforms from his phone to break free from their influence.
A Digital Detox for Political Clarity
In a detailed opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal, Ramaswamy revealed that he removed apps like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram from his device on December 31. He has committed to not browsing these platforms himself for the foreseeable future. However, his campaign team will continue to manage official accounts on his behalf.
Ramaswamy argued that the perceived pulse of social media is increasingly unreliable. He claimed it is being artificially manufactured by foreign actors and nonhuman bots, which distorts political reality. This move, he suggests, is a first step for leaders to practice what they preach about the platform's problematic influence.
Contrasting Online Hate with Ground Reality in Ohio
The politician directly addressed the relentless online hate he encounters, which he attributes to his Indian-origin and Hindu religion. He presented a stark contrast between his digital experience and his interactions on the campaign trail.
"I didn’t hear a single bigoted remark from an Ohio voter the entire year," Ramaswamy wrote, referencing his visits to tens of thousands of voters across all 88 counties of Ohio. This disconnect between virtual vitriol and real-world engagement forms a core part of his argument for stepping back.
Not a Ban, But a Call for Discernment
Ramaswamy was careful to clarify that he is not advocating for citizens to abandon social media. He affirmed their constitutional right to use these platforms to sway politicians. His critique is directed at elected officials who, he believes, must develop the discernment to know what they are responding to online.
"Real leaders must break free," he asserted. He criticized the trend of leaders complaining about social media's impact on politics while taking no concrete action to mitigate it.
In his op-ed, he cited investigative reports to bolster his case. One revealed that engagement with the account of white nationalist Nick Fuentes—who has announced a campaign against Ramaswamy to ensure Christmas, not Diwali, is celebrated at the Ohio Governor's mansion—showed signs of being unusually fast and foreign in origin. Another report indicated bots drove a pro-Democrat hashtag about the Trump assassination attempt.
This is not the first time Ramaswamy's editorial writings have stirred controversy. A previous op-ed in the New York Times explaining his vision of American identity led to significant backlash from the MAGA faction, which rallied support behind his rival candidate.
By taking this step, Vivek Ramaswamy positions his 2026 Ohio Gubernatorial campaign as one seeking authenticity beyond the digital noise, challenging both political opponents and the very infrastructure of modern political discourse.
