Vivek Ramaswamy is leaving DOGE right as it's getting started
Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer be a co-leader of DOGE.
He's expected to instead run for governor of Ohio in 2026.
That leaves Elon Musk as the group's sole leader.
Vivek Ramaswamy is leaving President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
Instead of leading the group with Elon Musk, he's expected to run for governor of Ohio, according to various media reports.
"It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE," Ramaswamy wrote on X on Monday evening. "I'm confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government."
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! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/f1YFZm8X13
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 20, 2025
"Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE. He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure that we announced today," Trump spokesperson Anna Kelly said, according to the New York Times and Associated Press. "We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last 2 months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again!"
A source familiar with the matter previously told BI that Trump was encouraging Ramaswamy to seek Vice President JD Vance's vacated Senate seat. However, on Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Lt. Governor Jon Husted to the position.
On Monday, Ramaswamy wrote on X that he would "have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio."
Prior to the intrigue about Ramaswamy's potential appointment to the US Senate, the tech entrepreneur and one-time 2024 presidential candidate was expected to co-lead DOGE with Musk.
Musk will now be the sole leader of the government-efficiency initiative, which Trump said he would officially establish via executive order on Monday.
In recent days, Ramaswamy has been publicly toying with the idea of a gubernatorial bid in the Buckeye State. On Friday, he publicly thanked Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennesse, a big booster of DOGE in the Senate, on X after she said she would support him if he chooses to run for governor.
Thank you @VoteMarsha! https://t.co/9DfYe4krWI
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 17, 2025
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