Vivek Ramaswamy leaves Elon Musk's Department of Government efficiency after tweet sparks debate

Indian-American entrepreneur and former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has exited the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, just hours after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. Ramaswamy, who had been handpicked by Trump to co-lead DOGE with Musk, confirmed his departure through a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if…

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024

“It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining the government,” Ramaswamy wrote.

His abrupt departure comes amid growing speculation, with Politico reporting that Musk had pushed for Ramaswamy’s exit in recent days. According to unnamed sources, tensions were heightened by a December 2024 post from Ramaswamy that criticized American culture, reigniting debates among Republicans.

In his viral post, Ramaswamy lamented that "American culture venerates mediocrity over excellence," suggesting this mindset is a barrier to producing top-tier engineers domestically. He argued that the preference for foreign-born and first-generation engineers in leading tech companies was not due to an "American IQ deficit" but instead a reflection of cultural priorities that reward popularity over intellect.

“Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long,” Ramaswamy wrote, sparking both praise and backlash from millions online. The post amassed over 118 million views and 51,000 comments, with many debating his views on America’s work ethic and cultural values.

“Well, he was right, but America wasn’t ready for that conversation,” one user commented, while another wrote, “I’d salute, but you need to respect America first, Vivek.”

Despite the controversy, Ramaswamy’s departure has not derailed his political ambitions. The Associated Press reports that the 39-year-old, who was seen as a close ally of both Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, is preparing for a potential gubernatorial run in his home state of Ohio.

Ramaswamy, born to Indian immigrant parents in Cincinnati, remains a polarizing figure in American politics. While some admire his candidness, others believe his comments risk alienating the very culture he seeks to reform.

The White House and Elon Musk have yet to comment publicly on Ramaswamy’s exit from DOGE, leaving room for further speculation as the department begins its mission to overhaul government efficiency under Musk’s leadership.