Vivek Ramaswamy’s latest Instagram video was meant to showcase his Ohio roots, but it quickly turned into social media ammunition for critics who accused the Republican politician of trying far too hard to appear relatable.
The Cincinnati native filmed himself at a Gold Star Chili restaurant, praising the city as his hometown, where he grew up, before revealing that he would later meet with a group of “black pastors” in Columbus. That specific phrasing immediately caught the attention of commenters, with one Reddit user writing, “Very weird to specify he’s meeting a group of black pastors later.”
The short clip was intended to highlight Ramaswamy’s local ties, but many Ohio citizens weren’t buying it. Instead, commenters mocked the appearance as a carefully staged attempt to connect with everyday Ohioans.
One of the most upvoted reactions summed up the mood bluntly: “Man, this poser.”
Others questioned whether the visit looked authentic at all, with several claiming he barely touched his meal. One commenter joked that Ramaswamy “cosplayed as a regular Cincinnatian” before taking only a bite of his wrap.
Cincinnati locals say the performance fell flat
The choice of Gold Star Chili even became part of the debate. Some users argued that if Ramaswamy truly wanted to celebrate Cincinnati food culture, he would have picked Skyline or one of the city’s independent chili parlors instead. One commenter joked that Gold Star was probably simply “the closest to wherever they could land his fancy helicopter.“
Another mocked the way Ramaswamy described the restaurant’s location, writing, “My favorite part is where he describes the exact geographical location… That one, my fellow kids.”
Beyond the chili discussion, many posts reflected broader political criticism. Several commenters described Ramaswamy as unlikeable or untrustworthy, while others referenced his business career in the pharmaceutical industry and expressed concerns about his support for expanding data center development in Ohio. Those criticisms reflected the views of individual users and were not universally shared.
One commenter wrote, “He is a crook and scammer. Look up how he got his money.” Another dismissed the video entirely as an attempt by “weird billionaires and politicians” to pretend they are ordinary people.
The mention of meeting “black pastors” also generated its own debate, with multiple users questioning why race was highlighted at all.
Even people who admitted they preferred Gold Star found themselves laughing at the situation. One fan of the chain quipped, “Sucks to be on the same side of something as Vivek though.”
Whether the Instagram post was designed to reinforce Ramaswamy’s hometown credentials or simply share a lunch stop, the reaction on Reddit suggested many Ohio citizens were unconvinced. Instead of celebrating a local politician returning home, much of the discussion focused on accusations of political pandering, with critics insisting the performance felt anything but genuine.
