Vivek Ramaswamy, now campaigning for Ohio governor, used a New York Times op‑ed to warn of rising extremism on the right and to propose four remedies aimed at younger Americans. He urged Republicans to openly condemn Groyper and far‑right transgressions, recommended loosening local land‑use rules to expand housing supply, and proposed stock options and tax relief to improve youth economic prospects. His most striking suggestion is a unifying, Apollo‑scale national project — possibly a lunar base — to revive STEM education and rebuild a shared sense of purpose.
Ramaswamy Urges Republicans to Condemn Extremism — Proposes a Moon Base to Reignite Young People’s Sense of Purpose
Republican entrepreneur and 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy used an op‑ed in The New York Times this week to warn that elements of the right are drifting toward identity‑driven extremism and to set out four proposals aimed at restoring national unity and giving younger Americans renewed economic and civic hope.
Ramaswamy cautioned that some conservatives have grown reluctant to confront far‑right figures, arguing that this mirrors past hesitancy on the left to criticize excesses of identity politics. He singled out figures such as Nick Fuentes and described a strain on the right that places outsized importance on “inherited attributes.”
Four Recommendations to Restore Purpose and Opportunity
In the op‑ed, Ramaswamy laid out four concrete proposals he says would help heal cultural divisions and improve younger Americans’ prospects:
- Publicly condemn Groyper and far‑right transgressions: He urged Republicans to “condemn — without hedging — Groyper transgressions,” arguing there is no place in the conservative movement for those who praise extremist figures or espouse racist beliefs. He wrote bluntly: “If, like Mr. Fuentes, you believe that Hitler was ‘really f‑ing cool,’ or if you publicly call Usha Vancea ‘jeet,’ then you have no place in the conservative movement, period.”
- Lower housing costs: Ramaswamy recommended eliminating restrictive local land‑use rules to increase housing supply and reduce the cost of living for young families and workers.
- Expand youth ownership and financial opportunity: He suggested policies such as granting stock options to young employees and cutting tax burdens to improve long‑term economic prospects for the next generation.
- Pursue a unifying, Apollo‑scale national project: His most ambitious proposal is a large, explicitly national project — for example, establishing a base on the Moon — to unite Americans across political lines and revive high‑quality math and science education. Ramaswamy suggested a lunar effort could aim for breakthroughs (he cited the example of achieving fusion in ways that could power AI development without harmful terrestrial externalities) or otherwise serve as a modern‑day Apollo program to restore shared purpose.
“Provide America the shared national project we badly need. America has a greater purpose in the world than what we have embodied thus far in the 21st century,” Ramaswamy wrote, calling for a project that would inspire students and bind citizens of different backgrounds together.
Ramaswamy framed the proposals as both a moral and practical response to rising polarization and a dimmer economic outlook for younger Americans. He presented them while campaigning for Ohio governor in 2026, positioning his recommendations as part of a broader appeal to conservatives to reject extremism and to pursue tangible policy changes that improve opportunity.
Read the full New York Times op‑ed for Ramaswamy’s full arguments and examples. (Article originally summarized from coverage on Mediaite.)
