"He could never get a girl in high school like Topanga"- Netizens react to Vivek Ramaswamy referencing Boy Meets Girl as he supports H1-B visas

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has sparked a social media debate after referencing the beloved 90s sitcom Boy Meets World during a recent discussion on U.S. immigration policy. On December 26, 2024, Vivek Ramaswamy sparked the discussion with a detailed post on his X account, addressing American culture and the H-1B visa system.

In his post, the Republican presidential candidate argued that a culture that venerates characters like Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World fails to foster the qualities needed to produce top-tier engineers .

"A culture that venerates Cory from 'Boy Meets World,' or Zach & Slater over Screech in 'Saved by the Bell,' or ‘Stefan’ over Steve Urkel in 'Family Matters,' will not produce the best engineers," Ramaswamy wrote.

While Vivek Ramaswamy did not elaborate on his choice to reference Cory Matthews, the post quickly went viral, with netizens flooding the platform with memes, reactions, and theories.

Many users were speculating that Ramaswamy's commentary reflected his own struggles in high school, with many humorously suggesting he could never have dated a girl like Topanga Lawrence, Cory's close friend and eventual partner in the beloved sitcom. One user wrote:

"Long a*s story short is that Vivek Ramaswamy has an issue with the shows 'Boy Meets World' and 'Saved by the Bell,' but I think that’s because he could never get a girl in high school like Topanga or Kelly and I doubt it, but maybe he dated a book worm like Jessie."

A user on X commented (Image via X/@SaulAlejandr00)

Some users on X pointed out that Vivek Ramaswamy may not have fully understood the character dynamics of Boy Meets World, with some arguing that Cory Matthews was portrayed as relatable, charming, and even a "cool jock" figure at times.

"How to say you never watched Boy Meets World without saying you never watched Boy Meets World: "Cory is the prime example of the cool guy/jock/prom king archetype," a netizen on X commented.

"There’s no better insight into Vivek’s psyche than the fact the example of a jock/cool guy from Boy Meets World is Cory and not Shawn, or even Eric," another commented.

"I promise u ppl watched Boy Meets World for Topanga Vivek," one more on X.

However, some users on X supported Ramaswamy's broader cultural critique, sharing memes and posts suggesting that the show represented a more idealized version of American values.

"It’s ok, we’re Americans. Boy meets world Americans? Or weekend science competition Americans?,” a netizen commented.

"Boy Meets World America IS the better America," another wrote.

"Vivek is 100% correct when he says, "Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long...," a third commented.

Currently, Vivek Ramaswamy has not publicly responded to the online reactions or clarified his remarks further.

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Vivek Ramaswamy highlights cultural priorities in H1-B visa debate

Ramaswamy (Image via Getty/@Anna Moneymaker)

On Thursday, December 26, 2024, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy took to his X account to share his thoughts on American culture and express support for the H-1B visa program.

In his post, Ramaswamy addressed why top tech companies allegedly often prefer hiring foreign-born engineers over their native-American counterparts, attributing the trend not to a perceived deficit in American intelligence but to cultural differences.

"The reason 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."

He continued:

"Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH," Ramaswamy wrote.

Vivek Ramaswamy cited examples of how American culture, particularly since the 1990s, has celebrated social popularity and conformity over academic and technical excellence.

He urged his followers to reflect on families they have known who prioritized different approaches to raising their children, contrasting those that emphasized hard work and intellectual rigor with those that sought "normalcy."

The H-1B visa, as defined by the United States Department of Labor, is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers temporarily in specialty occupations. These roles typically require a high level of specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher or equivalent experience in a relevant field.

While Ramaswamy’s comments sparked widespread discussion online, President-elect Donald Trump, known for his critical stance on H-1B visas during his administration, has yet to respond to Ramaswamy’s endorsement of the program.