Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two affluents enjoying established roles in the federal government’s financial echelons, seemingly have been brought closer by their shared responsibilities. However, this brotherhood appears relatively new, considering their past disagreements. As part of the public record, remarks have been noted from Ramaswamy pointing accusingly towards Musk, labeling him as an accomplice to the Chinese government.
In the year 2023, as per the records, Ramaswamy expressed his views about Tesla’s increasing dependence on China. Furthermore, he appeared cynical about Musk’s subservience, predicting, ‘Elon may willingly dance to President Xi Jinping’s tune on calls’. A peek into an interview a year earlier reveals Ramaswamy outlining Musk’s pliability towards ticking the political boxes necessary to facilitate his ventures in China.
In the same year, Ramaswamy took an opportunity to reproach Musk following the latter’s remarks on Taiwan’s proposed transition as a specialized administrative region under the Chinese jurisdiction. Ramaswamy appeared to correlate this event with an appreciation, a tax cut, that Musk’s Shanghai factory received after uttering the controversial Taiwan comments.
Not limited to Musk, Ramaswamy also held Apple CEO, Tim Cook, accountable for their submissive attitude towards China. He opined that both business magnates seemed to be serving the interests of the same entity, the Chinese Communist Party.
Ramaswamy continued his critique in May 2023 with a video post. The content reflected his disapproval of American business titans and celebrities, including Musk, being exploited by the Chinese Communist Party for their propagandas. He emphasized the US’s dire need for leaders free from China’s dominance.
The following year, in June 2023, he lambasted Musk’s duplicitous stance on free speech, given his seemingly acted submission to China. Ramaswamy’s post drew on the metaphor of Musk, the ‘free speech’ advocate, bowing down to the world’s largest censorship exponent – Xi Jinping.
Interestingly, political aspirations have a curious way of mending burnt bridges. Both Ramaswamy and Musk threw their weight behind then-candidate Donald Trump’s campaign to retake the presidency. Their show of loyalty wasn’t ignored. They were assigned pivotal roles in Trump’s re-emerging administration as the reward.
This partnership led both men to occupy significant leadership positions in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a nascent entity championing streamlined governmental expenditures. As Trump highlighted, the motive was to unravel layers of bureaucratic protocol. Skepticism, however, looms over the actual impact this department might wield.
Musk’s vested interests stemming from federal contracts and government subsidies supporting Tesla and SpaceX are known to all. There is a growing apprehension that the so-called department may turn into a tool for cornering the competition in favor of Musk’s entities.
More disquieting is Ramaswamy’s pledged commitment to a thorough inspection of federal loans offered to electric vehicle companies competing with Musk. Furthermore, Musk’s enthusiasm about attempts to repeal vast sections of regulatory scrutiny affecting his ventures has raised eyebrows.
Enthusiasts and critics alike are patiently observing the role DOGE will play in this administration. Its influence and contributions, if any, stand at the heart of numerous debates. Musk and Ramaswamy’s helming of DOGE will likely prove advantageous in more ways than one, at least for themselves.
Ramaswamy’s earlier skepticism about Musk’s national loyalty seems to have taken a back seat in the current scenario. It seems loyalty to Trump and the Republican agenda supersedes any past grievances. Ramaswamy has transformed from a critic to an ally expressing deep respect and admiration for Musk.
In an appreciative gesture, Ramaswamy recently announced his fondness for Musk. He stated, ‘I admire him greatly and have immense respect for him.’ His words repeated the sentiment another way: ‘I’m honored to call him a friend. The nation he puts first is the one I remain loyal to – the United States of America.’
Thus, developments over the years paint a truly intriguing picture of the friendship between these two business behemoths. Behind the curtains of public criticism and spectacle, lays a narrative thread of political ambition, mutual respect, and national allegiance.
From a larger perspective, it remains to be seen whether this newfound alliance between Musk and Ramaswamy — and the unique entity they lead — will foster an efficient government or merely fulfill personal agendas. The debate continues while the nation watches anxiously.