In a surprising move, Vivek Ramaswamy, the former US Republican presidential candidate, has called on BuzzFeed to make significant changes to its operations. Ramaswamy has recently acquired an 8.4% stake in the struggling online media firm and is pushing for a "major shift" in the company's strategy.

BuzzFeed, known for its viral content and diverse array of online platforms, has faced significant challenges in recent years. The decline in traffic from social networks like Facebook and Twitter, coupled with the negative impact of going public in 2021, has led to layoffs and the closure of its news division.

Ramaswamy, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, believes that BuzzFeed has "lost its way" and needs to reassess its business model. In a letter addressed to BuzzFeed's board, he proposed implementing widespread job cuts and a focus on video and audio content. Additionally, Ramaswamy urged the company to acknowledge its "past journalistic failures" and even provided a draft statement for an apology.

Notably, Ramaswamy recommended that BuzzFeed begin recruiting prominent conservative commentators, including Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Bill Maher, Aaron Rodgers, and Charles Barkley. He argued that including these voices would "challenge" BuzzFeed's audience and bring a fresh perspective to the platform.

Jonah Peretti, BuzzFeed's co-founder and CEO, responded to Ramaswamy's suggestions, claiming that he had "fundamental misunderstandings" about the company's business. While acknowledging that BuzzFeed is undervalued, Peretti firmly rejected the proposal to transform the platform into an arena for political pundits. He also emphasized that BuzzFeed would not apologize for its Pulitzer prize-winning journalism.

Despite the disagreement between Ramaswamy and Peretti, BuzzFeed's stock saw an 8% rise during early trading in New York on Tuesday. It remains to be seen how the company will respond to Ramaswamy's demands and navigate the challenges it faces in the ever-changing landscape of online media.