Indian-American entrepreneur and Republican politician Vivek Ramaswamy recently took to social media to share a heartfelt message celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary with wife Apoorva. However, what should have been a touching tribute to their love story quickly turned into a target for online hate, as users posted a barrage of racist and anti-immigrant remarks, many of them telling the couple to “go back to India.”
In his anniversary post on X , Ramaswamy shared two photos one from their first date in 2011 and another from a recent hike recounting how they had once attempted to summit Flattop Mountain in Colorado but were forced to turn back due to a blizzard. Fourteen years and two children later, the couple finally returned to finish the climb and mark a decade of marriage.
"Grateful for the love of my life & every day of our journey together," Ramaswamy wrote in a message that was intended to be a personal reflection on growth and partnership. But amid a politically charged atmosphere, especially over the H-1B visa debate, the post instead attracted xenophobic backlash.
Several users lashed out at Ramaswamy and his wife with derogatory comments: “Go back to India,” “Why do you look lighter? Did you bleach your skin?” and “Don’t you have mountains in your home country?” were just some of the offensive responses. Others questioned the couple’s American identity and demanded deportation, despite both being U.S. citizens.
The surge in racist vitriol comes amid growing tension around the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations. Ramaswamy, who has previously criticized the H-1B system for being "abused" by big tech firms, was accused by critics of hypocrisy, given his Indian heritage and support from segments of the immigrant community.
The H-1B debate has intensified under President Donald Trump’s second term. While some on the far right claim that visa holders are displacing American workers, Trump and several senior officials have defended the program as essential for maintaining America’s leadership in innovation and technology.
Despite this divide, Ramaswamy’s personal post being hijacked by racist rhetoric highlights the challenges faced by people of color even those in leadership or public service who continue to navigate deeply rooted prejudice in public discourse. While the politician has not publicly responded to the racist comments, the incident shines a light on the ongoing issue of online hate, and how political tensions can easily spill into personal territory. It also raises questions about the direction of immigration discourse in America and how public figures of immigrant descent are treated regardless of their citizenship or political stance.
