Ohio GOP-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, 39, is raising eyebrows and expectations with his declaration that American students are trailing their Chinese counterparts by an alarming margin.

“The average student in China is a full four years ahead of the average US student in academic performance,” Ramaswamy said in a pointed message posted on X. “I refuse to stand by and watch as the CCP laughs at our gradual decay.”

The biotech entrepreneur and former US presidential candidate, who was recently endorsed by Donald Trump and officially backed by the Ohio Republican Party, is positioning himself as a crusader for academic excellence.

“We’ll lead Ohio to be the top state in the nation to put the focus of education where it belongs: excellence,” Ramaswamy vowed, signaling a campaign platform that will prioritize rigorous academics and education reform.

Ramaswamy’s comments come amid growing concern in conservative circles about the state of public education in the US. His comparison with China plays into broader geopolitical anxieties about American competitiveness in science, technology, and innovation.

Backed strongly by President Trump and his inner circle, Ramaswamy outmaneuvered more experienced Republican rivals, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Appalachian businesswoman Heather Hill.

Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati native and former co-chair of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative, launched his campaign earlier this year and has since toured the state aggressively. Trump endorsed him on day one, calling him “Young, Strong, and Smart!”

One of the world’s wealthiest millennials, Ramaswamy made a fortune in biotech before turning his attention to politics. He rose to prominence on the right as a fierce critic of identity politics and programs that advance diversity, equity and inclusion.