'Everyone wants him out': Musk's Role in Ramaswamy's DOGE Departure
Ramaswamy is departing from the Department of Government Efficiency and intends to campaign for the position of Ohio governor.
TroibNews 
Elon Musk has taken his first step towards shaping the so-called Department of Government Efficiency by parting ways with his co-leader, Vivek Ramaswamy.
Musk, the influential tech entrepreneur and ally of Donald Trump, recently expressed a desire for Ramaswamy to exit DOGE, according to three individuals familiar with Musk’s views, who, like others mentioned in this article, requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. Ramaswamy's holiday comments on X regarding H-1B visas reportedly accelerated his departure.
Just 69 days after Trump announced the team, Ramaswamy is set to leave DOGE and is expected to announce his gubernatorial run for Ohio next week. Musk's maneuver to remove Ramaswamy, who had become a source of irritation for some Republicans in Trump’s inner circle, showcases Musk’s growing influence in the upcoming administration and signals the possibility of a repeat of the infighting that characterized Trump’s first term.
“Ramaswamy just burned through the bridges and he finally burned Elon,” said a Republican strategist connected to Trump advisers. "Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.”
One significant factor contributing to the dissatisfaction certain Republicans felt toward Ramaswamy was a post he made on X discussing H-1B visas. In late December, he criticized American culture, asserting that tech companies hire foreign workers partially due to a national mindset that has “venerated mediocrity over excellence.”
“They wanted him out before the tweet — but kicked him to the curb when that came out,” remarked one individual acquainted with the circumstances of his departure.
According to someone close to DOGE, Musk believed Ramaswamy could not effectively campaign for office while also being involved with DOGE.
In a statement, Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly commended Ramaswamy, noting he “played a critical role in helping us create DOGE” and that his gubernatorial aspirations “require him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure that we announced today.”
Ramaswamy maintained to close associates as recently as Saturday evening that he was actively contributing to DOGE, claiming he was busy writing executive orders, according to six people who spoke with him. However, another source familiar with the situation indicated that he had performed minimal DOGE-related tasks since early December.
Up until last week, Ramaswamy had aimed to secure early successes at DOGE before transitioning to his campaign for governor.
Now, Ramaswamy and his supporters are working to present his departure in a positive light, coinciding with Trump's inauguration.
Ramaswamy refrained from commenting on perceived tensions with Musk.
A source close to Ramaswamy indicated that relations are now amicable and acknowledged that “the reality is that it wasn’t possible” to simultaneously serve as co-leader of DOGE and run for governor.
Even among Hill Republicans, criticism of Ramaswamy has surfaced. A humorous meme depicting Musk removing Ramaswamy from history was shared privately among junior staff in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, according to a person familiar with it. The meme portrayed Musk as Josef Stalin and Ramaswamy as the head of the Soviet secret police, who was later executed and erased from historical records.
A spokesperson for Johnson’s office refuted this account.
Recently, Ramaswamy was overlooked by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine when he appointed someone else to fill Ohio’s Senate seat, after Ramaswamy had launched a late effort to secure the position.
During a rally on Sunday, Trump referenced DOGE and did not suggest that any changes were imminent, stating, "We have [Musk] and Vivek and some great people working on a thing called costs.”
Ramaswamy was present at Trump’s inauguration, where he conversed with Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff.
On Monday morning, Ramaswamy shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Musk.
“A new dawn,” he wrote, though he was already on the path to departure. That same day, a source close to Ramaswamy confirmed that he was indeed leaving, speaking under anonymity to disclose the details freely.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
Musk, the influential tech entrepreneur and ally of Donald Trump, recently expressed a desire for Ramaswamy to exit DOGE, according to three individuals familiar with Musk’s views, who, like others mentioned in this article, requested anonymity to discuss internal matters. Ramaswamy's holiday comments on X regarding H-1B visas reportedly accelerated his departure.
Just 69 days after Trump announced the team, Ramaswamy is set to leave DOGE and is expected to announce his gubernatorial run for Ohio next week. Musk's maneuver to remove Ramaswamy, who had become a source of irritation for some Republicans in Trump’s inner circle, showcases Musk’s growing influence in the upcoming administration and signals the possibility of a repeat of the infighting that characterized Trump’s first term.
“Ramaswamy just burned through the bridges and he finally burned Elon,” said a Republican strategist connected to Trump advisers. "Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of D.C.”
One significant factor contributing to the dissatisfaction certain Republicans felt toward Ramaswamy was a post he made on X discussing H-1B visas. In late December, he criticized American culture, asserting that tech companies hire foreign workers partially due to a national mindset that has “venerated mediocrity over excellence.”
“They wanted him out before the tweet — but kicked him to the curb when that came out,” remarked one individual acquainted with the circumstances of his departure.
According to someone close to DOGE, Musk believed Ramaswamy could not effectively campaign for office while also being involved with DOGE.
In a statement, Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly commended Ramaswamy, noting he “played a critical role in helping us create DOGE” and that his gubernatorial aspirations “require him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure that we announced today.”
Ramaswamy maintained to close associates as recently as Saturday evening that he was actively contributing to DOGE, claiming he was busy writing executive orders, according to six people who spoke with him. However, another source familiar with the situation indicated that he had performed minimal DOGE-related tasks since early December.
Up until last week, Ramaswamy had aimed to secure early successes at DOGE before transitioning to his campaign for governor.
Now, Ramaswamy and his supporters are working to present his departure in a positive light, coinciding with Trump's inauguration.
Ramaswamy refrained from commenting on perceived tensions with Musk.
A source close to Ramaswamy indicated that relations are now amicable and acknowledged that “the reality is that it wasn’t possible” to simultaneously serve as co-leader of DOGE and run for governor.
Even among Hill Republicans, criticism of Ramaswamy has surfaced. A humorous meme depicting Musk removing Ramaswamy from history was shared privately among junior staff in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, according to a person familiar with it. The meme portrayed Musk as Josef Stalin and Ramaswamy as the head of the Soviet secret police, who was later executed and erased from historical records.
A spokesperson for Johnson’s office refuted this account.
Recently, Ramaswamy was overlooked by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine when he appointed someone else to fill Ohio’s Senate seat, after Ramaswamy had launched a late effort to secure the position.
During a rally on Sunday, Trump referenced DOGE and did not suggest that any changes were imminent, stating, "We have [Musk] and Vivek and some great people working on a thing called costs.”
Ramaswamy was present at Trump’s inauguration, where he conversed with Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff.
On Monday morning, Ramaswamy shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Musk.
“A new dawn,” he wrote, though he was already on the path to departure. That same day, a source close to Ramaswamy confirmed that he was indeed leaving, speaking under anonymity to disclose the details freely.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
