Former Republican presidential candidate’s education proposal was so politically toxic that his own supporters claimed the video evidence must be fake rather than defend the actual policy.
Story Snapshot
- Vivek Ramaswamy proposed year-round schooling for Ohio, then quickly deleted the video containing this plan
- Democratic opponent Amy Acton shared clips of the original video, triggering accusations of AI manipulation from MAGA allies
- Republican influencers insisted the video was artificially generated rather than acknowledge the unpopular proposal
- The original footage remains accessible on TikTok despite being scrubbed from other platforms
The Proposal Too Radical for Republicans
Vivek Ramaswamy uploaded a video titled “Here’s how Republicans win in 2026” that included a segment advocating for year-round school in Ohio. The proposal would eliminate traditional summer breaks, forcing students and teachers into extended academic calendars. Within hours of posting, Ramaswamy deleted the original video and uploaded a sanitized version with the year-round school segment completely removed.
The rapid deletion raised immediate questions about why a candidate would abandon his own policy position so quickly. The answer became clear when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton posted clips from the original video on social media.
When Reality Becomes Too Inconvenient
Rather than defend Ramaswamy’s education proposal, prominent MAGA figures launched into damage control mode. Jack Posobiec, a influential conservative voice, immediately accused Acton of falling for AI-generated content. Gabe Guidarini, chairman of the Ohio College Republican Federation, demanded financial penalties for candidates who share “AI-altered videos.”
The desperation to discredit the footage revealed more about the proposal’s political viability than any polling data could. When your own allies refuse to acknowledge your policy exists, you’ve crossed a line even hardcore supporters won’t defend. The irony wasn’t lost on observers: the party that regularly criticizes “fake news” was now creating their own alternative facts.
The Financial Reality Behind the Panic
Philip Stein, Acton’s campaign manager, highlighted the economic implications that likely triggered the Republican retreat. “Blowing a massive hole in public school budgets by forcing teachers and students into year-round school is yet another example of how out of touch Vivek Ramaswamy is with Ohioans.” Year-round schooling requires additional staffing, extended facility operations, and increased utility costs that cash-strapped districts cannot absorb.
The proposal would have placed enormous financial burdens on families accustomed to summer childcare arrangements, vacation planning, and seasonal employment opportunities. For a party that claims to champion family values and fiscal responsibility, Ramaswamy’s plan represented a government mandate that would disrupt household economics across Ohio.
The Broader Pattern of Educational Extremism
This controversy reflects wider tensions within conservative education policy. Project 2025, the comprehensive conservative blueprint, proposes eliminating the Department of Education and Title I funding that supports thousands of teachers nationwide. Navigator polling shows 53 percent of Americans oppose these radical restructuring plans, including 37 percent of non-MAGA Republicans.
Education experts warn that such proposals would devastate public school systems. Will Ragland from the Center for American Progress noted that removing Title I funding would mean “losing thousands of teachers and ultimately limiting children’s access to quality instruction.” The gap between activist ideology and practical governance has never been wider.
Sources:
PrimeTimer – Republicans accuse Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton of posting an AI video
NEA – How Project 2025 would devastate public education
White House – Ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling
Center for American Progress – Public education under threat
