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Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer be part of the Department of Government Efficiency alongside tech mogul Elon Musk, according to multiple reports. This move comes as Ramaswamy is expected to announce his bid for the Ohio governor’s race early next week.
“It became increasingly clear over the last week that pursuing the governor’s race and running DOGE [were] not compatible,” one source told NBC News. “He’s leaving on good terms with Trump, Elon, and the team.”
🚨BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy will be running for governor of Ohio, according to the Washington Post.
Let's go, Vivek! pic.twitter.com/j5hUoNArQj
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) January 17, 2025
Ramaswamy was a prominent figure in Trump’s inner circle during the election, frequently appearing alongside MAGA allies. However, many have noted that Ramaswamy’s presence has diminished following his controversial and unprompted take on H-1B visas. Although Musk and President-elect Donald Trump publicly sided with Ramaswamy’s stance on the visa program, several reports suggested that the controversy was unwelcome.
Ramaswamy was also rumored to be in the running to succeed Vice President-elect JD Vance as an Ohio senator. However, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio eventually selected Lt. Gov. Jon Husted for the role, further fueling speculation about Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial bid.
🚨🇺🇸 REPORT: RAMASWAMY EXITS DOGE TO LAUNCH OHIO GOVERNOR BID
Republican narrative: While Ramaswamy will be missed at DOGE, he now has the opportunity to transform Ohio by adopting bold policies and rejecting establishment insiders. His outsider status could break the cycle of… pic.twitter.com/G5PGiWvVr5
— Verity (@improvethenews) January 20, 2025
Ahead of the inauguration, Ramaswamy responded to a parody account prematurely claiming that he had launched his candidacy for governor. “Note – the below is a parody account,” Ramaswamy said. “Not a bad idea, though.”
Despite the swirling rumors surrounding Ramaswamy’s exit, it appears that he has remained in Trump’s inner circle. Notably, Ramaswamy was seen in the Capitol rotunda on Monday for Trump’s inauguration.
“A new dawn,” Ramaswamy said in a post on X in which he is pictured alongside Musk.