‘This can be our Sputnik moment’: Vivek Ramaswamy says cultural shift needed in US for better competition in tech

Entrepreneur and political figure, Vivek Ramaswamy, recently addressed the reasons why top tech companies often hire foreign-born and first-generation engineers amid ongoing controversy surrounding immigration and high-skilled worker visas.
Posting on his social media account on X, he also emphasised that the issue is not because of an IQ difference, but rather a cultural one.

“Top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH”
Ramaswamy said that American culture has long celebrated mediocrity over excellence, a trend that dates back at least to the 90s, if not earlier. He also argued that this mindset doesn’t begin in college but is instilled from a young age.
“A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he stated.
He further argued that a culture which favours characters like Cory from “Boy Meets World,” Zach and Slater from “Saved by the Bell,” or Stefan over Steve Urkel from “Family Matters” will not produce the best engineers.
He mentioned that he knows several immigrant parents from the 90s who deliberately restricted how much TV their children could watch, as they believed shows promoting mediocrity hindered success. Their children, he pointed out, went on to become highly successful STEM graduates.
“More movies like Whiplash, fewer reruns of “Friends.” More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less “chillin.” More extracurriculars, less “hanging out at the mall.”
The Republican also stated that while most typical American parents view “those kinds of parents” with scepticism, if people grow up aiming for normalcy, that is what they will ultimately achieve.
He also asked the public to compare the families that raised their kids according to different models.
“Normalcy” doesn’t cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we’ll have our asses handed to us by China.”
The Republican politician also said that under Trump’s presidency America can soar to its golden heights again provided that the culture “wakes up” and prioritizes achievement over normalcy, excellence over mediocrity, nerdiness over conformity and hard work over laziness.
“That’s the work we have cut out for us, rather than wallowing in victimhood & just wishing (or legislating) alternative hiring practices into existence. I’m confident we can do it.”
Ramaswamy is set to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency alongside billionaire Elon Musk during Trump’s second term. Born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur, author, and former Republican presidential candidate.
He is best known for founding Roivant Sciences in 2014, where he built his wealth by acquiring and advancing underdeveloped pharmaceutical companies. Ramaswamy gained national attention for his outspoken views on corporate America’s involvement in social issues and his criticism of environmental, social, and governance investing.