Race-obsessed fringe: Vivek Ramaswamy slams troll targeting Mamdani, Usha Vance

Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy has condemned what he called the “race-obsessed fringe of the right” after being lumped into a xenophobic tirade alongside fellow Indian-origin leaders New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and US Second Lady Usha Vance.

Ramaswamy’s comments came in response to a post by white supremacist influencer Nick Fuentes, who called on conservatives attacking Mamdani to apply the same scrutiny to Ramaswamy and Usha Vance..

Fuentes wrote on X, “When conservatives attack Zohran Mamdani for being a foreigner, I just want them to keep the same energy with Vivek Ramaswamy and Usha Vance. Let’s be consistent.”

Ramaswamy, retweeting the post, fired back, “It’s a shame to watch the race-obsessed fringe of the right try to outdo the race-obsessed woke left.”

The exchange comes amid a broader controversy surrounding Zohran Mamdani after a viral video showed him eating rice and dal with his hands during an interview triggered a heated culture war online. The video, captioned “Zohran says his worldview is inspired by the 3rd world while eating rice with his hands,” quickly became a flashpoint.

US Congressman Brandon Gill joined the backlash, tweeting, “Civilised people in America don’t eat like this. If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World.”

The remarks drew immediate criticism, with many accusing Gill and others of racial intolerance and cultural ignorance. While some accused Mamdani of using cultural traditions for “performative politics,” others argued the criticism reflected deep-seated xenophobia.

The controversy has escalated into calls from some Republican-aligned groups for a federal investigation into Mamdani’s citizenship status. Former ICE director Tom Homan even threatened tougher enforcement on “sanctuary cities,” implicitly targeting Mamdani.

Mamdani, 33, is an Indian-American Muslim and the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair. This week, he made history by becoming the first Muslim nominee for the Democratic Party in the New York City mayoral race, after former Governor Andrew Cuomo withdrew.

Known for fusing pop culture and progressive messaging—often through Bollywood-themed campaign videos—Mamdani has developed a devoted online following. His candidacy, however, now finds itself at the center of a growing cultural and political storm.

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