Indian-origin entrepreneur and Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy stepped down as co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) just 69 days after his appointment alongside Elon Musk. A report by Politico has revealed that it was Musk, the Tesla CEO, who advocated for Ramaswamy’s removal following mounting differences between the two.
Citing three sources close to Musk, Politico reported that Musk had made it clear in recent days that he wanted Ramaswamy out of DOGE. The move came shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th US President, with Ramaswamy announcing his resignation the same day.
Musk’s role in sidelining Ramaswamy—who had reportedly irritated some Republican insiders in Trump’s circle—signals his growing influence within the new administration. A Republican strategist close to Trump’s advisers noted, “Ramaswamy just burned through the bridges, and he finally burned Elon. Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of DC.”
The tension reportedly peaked after Ramaswamy’s controversial comments on X (formerly Twitter) during a discussion on H-1B visas. In December, he criticized American culture and accused tech companies of hiring foreign workers because the U.S. had “venerated mediocrity over excellence.” According to sources, these remarks fueled frustrations among Republicans, with one insider saying, “They wanted him out before the tweet—but kicked him to the curb when that came out.”
Ramaswamy is now planning to announce his candidacy for Ohio Governor, Politico reported. A person close to DOGE revealed that Musk considered it unfeasible for Ramaswamy to campaign for office while co-leading the agency.
Despite the apparent tensions, Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Ramaswamy for his contributions to DOGE. “He played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,” she said, adding that his gubernatorial plans necessitated his exit based on the agency’s structure.
However, sources indicated that Ramaswamy had been minimally involved in DOGE’s activities since early December, with one insider claiming he had done “almost no DOGE-related work” during that time. While Ramaswamy reportedly hoped to achieve significant milestones before his departure, his exit coincided with Trump’s first days in office.
Ramaswamy has declined to comment on the alleged tensions with Musk. However, a source close to Ramaswamy claimed the two remain on good terms, explaining that “it wasn’t possible” for him to lead DOGE and run for governor simultaneously.
Ramaswamy attended Trump’s inauguration, where he met with key members of the administration, including Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles. On Monday morning, he shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Musk on X, captioned, “A new dawn.”
Shortly afterward, a source close to Ramaswamy confirmed his departure, describing the move as a calculated decision to focus on his gubernatorial campaign, according to Politico.
