Elon Musk, the influential tech entrepreneur and confidant of Donald Trump, has successfully orchestrated the removal of his co-leader, Vivek Ramaswamy, from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to sources familiar with the situation, Ramaswamy’s exit comes after a series of controversies, including a widely criticised social media post about H-1B visas.
Ramaswamy’s Controversial Exit
Ramaswamy’s departure, just 69 days after Trump’s announcement of the DOGE team, follows mounting dissatisfaction among Republican circles. His remarks on X, where he criticised American culture for “venerating mediocrity over excellence” in the context of foreign worker hiring, triggered a backlash and accelerated his exit.
A Republican strategist close to Trump’s advisors commented, “Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.” Sources indicate that while frustration had been brewing for some time, the controversial post was the final straw.
Campaign Ambitions and DOGE Role Conflict
Ramaswamy is reportedly planning to run for Ohio governor, with an announcement expected next week. A source close to DOGE indicated that Musk viewed it as impractical for Ramaswamy to juggle both roles effectively.
Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly acknowledged Ramaswamy’s contributions, stating he “played a critical role in helping us create DOGE” but added that his gubernatorial ambitions necessitated his departure based on the department’s structural requirements.
Limited Contributions to DOGE
Despite Ramaswamy’s claims of active involvement in DOGE, insiders suggest he had done little work since early December. Some sources claim he had been hoping to achieve quick wins before transitioning to his gubernatorial campaign.
While Ramaswamy and his supporters attempt to frame his exit positively, internal criticisms persist. Staffers within House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office reportedly shared a meme likening Musk’s removal of Ramaswamy to Stalin erasing political adversaries from history. Johnson’s office has denied any involvement.
Meanwhile, Trump made no mention of Ramaswamy’s exit at a recent rally, instead praising DOGE’s focus on reducing costs and highlighting Musk’s ongoing involvement.
On Monday, Ramaswamy posted an image of himself shaking hands with Musk, captioned “A new dawn,” signalling an attempt to downplay tensions. However, sources close to Ramaswamy confirmed his departure was already in motion.
With Ramaswamy out, all eyes are on Musk and Trump’s next moves as they continue shaping the Department of Government Efficiency’s future.