Indian-origin Vivek Ramaswamy steps down from Trump’s ‘DOGE’

Indian-origin Vivek Ramaswamy steps down from Trump’s ‘DOGE’

Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has announced his withdrawal from co-heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, just hours after US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Ramaswamy, who played a key role in the creation of DOGE, revealed plans to run for Ohio Governor next week, Politico reported. Taking to X, he said, “It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio. Most importantly, we’re all-in to help President Trump make America great again!”

However, sources disclosed to Politico that Musk had expressed a desire for Ramaswamy’s departure from DOGE, citing strained relations. “He just burned through the bridges and he finally burned Elon,” said a Republican strategist close to Trump advisers. “Everyone wants him out of Mar-a-Lago, out of DC.”

The controversy surrounding Ramaswamy’s stance on the H1-B visa program reportedly marked a turning point. In late December, he criticized American culture, claiming that the country’s preference for mediocrity over excellence had forced tech companies to rely heavily on foreign workers. This position sparked backlash within Trump’s MAGA base, which opposes the expansion of the visa program for highly skilled workers.

Musk, in a series of posts on X, defended the need to attract top engineering talent to maintain America’s technological leadership. “The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low,” Musk wrote. Ramaswamy echoed these views, attributing the reliance on foreign-born talent to cultural stagnation and diminished innovation within the US workforce.

Despite their differences, Politico reported that Musk and Ramaswamy remain on good terms. A source close to DOGE said, “The reality is that it wasn’t possible to run for governor and co-lead DOGE both at once.”

Meanwhile, Trump transition spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Ramaswamy for his contributions to DOGE, acknowledging that his gubernatorial ambitions necessitated his departure.