A businessman-turned-politician who will co-lead Donald Trump’s cost-cutting campaign has claimed the repetition of TV shows such as Friends has bred “laziness” and “mediocrity.”
His outlandish attack also included former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy taking aim at a number of other beloved ’90s sitcoms, while insisting on “fixing the problem” of what he perceives to be wrong in American culture today.
In a long post for
‘That doesn’t start at university, it starts YOUNG.
‘A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the Olympic math champion, or the athlete over the best student, will not produce the best engineers.
‘A culture that worships Cory from “Boy Meets World,” or Zach & Slater instead of Screech in “Saved by the Bell,” or “Stefan” instead of Steve Urkel in “Family Matters,” will not produce the best engineers. .
‘More movies like Whiplash, less “Friends” reruns.
‘More private math classes, less sleepovers. More science competitions on weekends, less cartoons on Saturday mornings.
Trump adviser Vivek Ramaswamy has claimed that the repetition of television shows like Friends has bred “laziness” and “mediocrity.”
Former Republican presidential hopeful Ramaswamy took aim at a host of other beloved ’90s sitcoms as he insisted on “fixing the problem” of what he perceives as wrong in current American culture.
Ramaswamy ignited controversy with a long and provocative post on X
‘More books, less television. More creation, less “relaxation.” More extracurricular activities, less “hanging out at the mall.”
Ramaswamy, who was recently named co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk, sparked a furore on Thursday after suggesting that American tech companies prefer to hire foreigners because they have a better work ethic.
In his message, he expressed strong support for bringing “highly skilled” foreign workers to the United States, even as MAGA voters and Trump himself have advocated for stricter immigration policies.
“The reason major tech companies often hire foreign-born and first-generation engineers instead of ‘native’ Americans is not because of an innate American IQ deficit (a vague and incorrect explanation).” wrote Ramaswamy.
‘A key part comes down to the c-word: culture. Hard questions demand hard answers, and if we really want to solve the problem, we have to face the TRUTH: our American culture has revered mediocrity over excellence for too long.’
He continued: “If you grow up aspiring for normality, normality is what you will achieve.”
Ramaswamy went on to say that he remains hopeful for the future “only if our culture fully awakens.”
He said: ‘This could be our Sputnik moment. We have awakened from slumber before and we can do so again.
Ramaswamy was recently named co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate and Trump appointee, has been outspoken in his defense of the H-1B visa program that allows American companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who positioned herself as a moderate during the 2024 Republican primary, offered a scathing response.
Nikki Haley ran as a moderate Republican when she launched a primary campaign against Trump in the 2024 presidential cycle.
Ramaswamy’s post and his subsequent follow-ups drew immediate criticism from Trump supporters who support the president-elect’s hardline immigration stance.
“Trump’s election will hopefully usher in a new golden age in America, but only if our culture fully awakens.
‘A culture that once again prioritizes achievement over normality; excellence over mediocrity; conformity nerd; hard work over laziness.
The MAGA movement, long united under its “America First” motto, faces a deepening schism as an intense online battle over the H-1B visa program engulfs its ranks.
The program, which allows American companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, has become a lightning rod for controversy within the ranks of President-elect Donald Trump.
However, not everyone within the party was happy to support Ramaswamy’s provocative views.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who positioned herself as a moderate during the 2024 Republican primary, offered a scathing response.
“There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture,” Haley declared.
‘The only thing you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. “We should invest and prioritize Americans, not foreign workers.”
Musk is the incoming co-director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and works alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.
Right-wing provocateur Mike Cernovich also weighed in, criticizing Ramaswamy’s comments as dismissive of America’s storied history of innovation.
“The Woodstock generation managed to develop the aerospace sector, the one before going to the Moon,” he wrote.
‘What underlies your post is that we were all living in squalor until we were rescued by H-1B visas. So why did everyone want to come here?
Ramaswamy responded: “That version of America, the one that used to embody rampant exceptionalism, is exactly what we want to return to.” This is a question of culture, not immigration policy.
Even MAGA influencers like Jack Posobiec joined the fray, questioning why the United States would seek foreign workers instead of fostering domestic talent.
“Imagine how many more JD Vances there are out there,” Posobiec argued, referencing the MAGA-aligned senator known for his rags-to-riches story.
Far-right commentator Laura Loomer took an even harsher stance, accusing Ramaswamy of undermining the original MAGA agenda.
His incendiary post referred to the H-1B visa program as part of a “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, highlighting growing fears within Trump’s base about the erosion of traditional American identity.
Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy say Big Tech needs foreign workers because there aren’t enough “motivated” Americans to fill the jobs.
The debate has highlighted some of the broader anxieties about the direction of Trump’s second term.
During his first administration, Trump made significant cuts to the H-1B visa program, a move applauded by his anti-immigration allies, but his current stance remains unclear, leaving immigrant communities and tech industry leaders bracing. for possible policy changes.
Critics warn that rolling back the program could harm U.S. competitiveness, particularly in sectors such as technology and health care.
However, MAGA supporters argue that limiting foreign labor would force companies to invest in training American workers.