‘Can’t handle the heat’: Vivek Ramaswamy mocked by rival for deleting social media apps to avoid ‘racist hate’

In a bold bid to reconnect with everyday Ohioans, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has decided to distance himself from social media platforms. Ramaswamy argues that online interactions often lead to a skewed portrayal of public sentiment, heavily influenced by bots and external entities.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was mocked by his primary rival Casey Putsch after announcing he deleted social media apps to avoid online harassment and racismPutsch posted on X: “Except that he can’t handle the heat on X or IG. Or showing any respect for actual working Americans.”Putsch’s response came after the X handle of the Ohio Republican Party praised Ramaswamy as a candidate in their state.Ex-DOGE leader Ramaswamy wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece that he removed X and Instagram from his phone on New Year’s Eve to focus on listening to voters directly. “I’ll spend my newfound time listening to more voters in real-world Ohio, developing more policies to make our state affordable, and being more present with my family,” he said.He added that his campaign team would continue to use social media to distribute messages, but he personally would not scroll through posts. He called social media “a tempting alternative” to expensive polls and warned that the platforms can create a distorted view of public opinion. “The messages you’re most likely to see are the most negative and bombastic,” he said. Ramaswamy said that online commentary is mostly influenced by bots and foreign actors, which can mislead politicians about the views of real voters.Ramaswamy’s decision follows his observation that social media can pressure leaders to react to extremes rather than focus on everyday concerns like higher take-home pay, lower utility bills, and better education. He cited his experience speaking at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, where online feedback predicted boos but he actually received a standing ovation from over 20,000 attendees.Casey Putsch has entered the 2026 Ohio governor’s Republican primary as an “America First” alternative to Ramaswamy, who is endorsed by US President Donald Trump. Putsch criticises Ramaswamy on H‑1B visa policy, immigration, and alleged elitism. He has also accused Ramaswamy of taking a $50,000 college scholarship he did not need, calling it “fraud.” Ramaswamy remains the front-runner in the race with significant funding and establishment support. Democratic candidate Amy Acton is also in the race.