Ohio governor hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has removed a clip from Instagram after it attracted ridicule. The video showed him swinging a baseball bat at a batting cage while listing ten policy proposals for Ohio. Ramaswamy intended the clip to highlight his priorities, but it became a target for internet mockery.
Critics noted his swing appeared awkward, standing away from the plate rather than gripping the bat fully. Commenters described it as resembling someone who had never held a bat or club. The awkwardness drew attention far beyond the policy message.
Users on social media reacted strongly. One comment called for mandatory sports in schools to prevent similar embarrassment, while another used Trump‑style language to dismiss the swings. CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski shared the clip without commentary, amplifying the ridicule. Ohio politics account Plunderbund pointed out this was the second instance in a week where Ramaswamy’s staff showed a lack of sports awareness, citing a separate incident involving a counterfeit Ohio State jersey.
The Independent has asked Ramaswamy’s campaign for a statement. Meanwhile, the race remains tight. A June New York Times poll shows a neck‑and‑neck matchup, with AARP and Fox News polls slightly favoring Dr. Amy Acton, former Ohio health director, and a Bowling Green State University poll giving Ramaswamy a narrow lead. Prediction markets also give Acton a small edge. Ramaswamy had previously posted a tennis‑ball video that received less criticism, and James Surowiecki praised his tennis skills but noted the baseball clip was poorly received.
