CINCINNATI, Ohio (Diya TV) — Ohio Republican Senate candidate and prominent MAGA supporter Vivek Ramaswamy marked his 10th wedding anniversary with a heartfelt social media tribute to his wife, Apoorva. But what began as a touching reflection on love quickly ignited a wave of xenophobic backlash, highlighting the country’s growing tensions over immigration and identity.
In the June post, Ramaswamy recounted his first date with Apoorva, whom he met in 2011 while she was a medical student. The pair hiked Flattop Mountain in the Rocky Mountains, but a blizzard cut the trek short. “I was foolishly stubborn about still making it,” Ramaswamy wrote. “When she grabbed my hand, looked me in the eye, & said we had a lifetime ahead to come back and finish it.”
Fourteen years and two children later, the couple returned to the mountain to celebrate their milestone anniversary. Ramaswamy shared side-by-side photos of their first date and their return, captioning the moment with gratitude: “Grateful for the love of my life & every day of our journey together.”
However, the post was soon flooded with racist and anti-immigrant replies. Some users told the couple to “go back to India,” while others called for their deportation, despite both Ramaswamy and his wife being U.S. citizens. The comments underscore an increasingly hostile online environment for Indian Americans and other immigrants, particularly those in high-profile roles.
Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, has built a political brand around nationalism and reducing legal immigration. He has repeatedly criticized the H-1B visa program, calling it a form of “corporate abuse” that undercuts American workers. “The lottery system needs to be replaced by meritocratic admission,” he argued during his 2024 presidential primary campaign, despite reports that his biotech firm previously used H-1B workers.
Critics pounced on the perceived contradiction, accusing Ramaswamy of hypocrisy and benefiting from the very system he opposes. Others simply targeted his ethnic background, regardless of his policy stance.
The backlash against Ramaswamy’s post comes amid broader tensions surrounding high-skilled immigration. Following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, many conservative lawmakers have renewed calls to limit work visas and tighten immigration controls. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Indian nationals accounted for 70% of H-1B visa recipients in 2023, fueling arguments that the system disproportionately benefits foreign talent in the tech sector.
But Ramaswamy is not alone in facing vitriol. Walmart’s Chief Technology Officer Suresh Kumar, also of Indian origin, has been subjected to racist attacks in recent weeks, highlighting the rise of nativist rhetoric aimed at high-profile immigrants. Analysts suggest this trend reflects a deeper anxiety over globalization, automation, and America’s place in the tech-driven world economy.
Despite the online hostility, Ramaswamy’s post resonated with many supporters who praised the personal story and the symbolism of the couple’s return to Flattop Mountain. Others noted the irony that a celebration of love could become a lightning rod for political and cultural resentment.
