Vivek Ramaswamy has insisted his DOGE divorce didn’t come about because former co-star Elon Musk fired him.
Fox News host Jesse Watters, just recovered from his outrage over Kamala Harris grocery shopping with husband Doug Emhoff, invited the biotech entrepreneur turned government hopeful onto his Primetime show Monday evening. And right off the bat, Watters was gunning for Ramaswamy.
“So, we’re hearing you’re leaving DOGE after like three Scaramuccis,” Watters said, referencing Anthony Scaramucci’s brief service for President Donald Trump as White House communications director. “What happened?”
Despite Watters’ brusque questioning, Ramaswamy replied calmly. “Well, the reality is I’m pursuing elected office very shortly,” he replied. “We’ll have an announcement soon.”
Ramaswamy is set to announce a bid for governor in his home state of Ohio by the end of the month. But, Watters didn’t appear interested in that, and shot back in with barely a second between Ramaswamy’s response and his next question. “People are saying you didn’t get along with Musk,” the host said. “What happened there?”
The Fox News host was referencing reports that Ramaswamy got the boot from the Department of Government Efficiency because Musk thought he was too “outspoken,” according to people familiar with the split who spoke to The Wall Street Journal.
“I think that’s incorrect,” Ramaswamy replied. “But what I would say is, we had different and complementary approaches. I focused more on a constitutional law, legislative-based approach. He focused more on a technology approach, which is the future approach.”
Whittling away at what Ramaswamy saw as overly restrictive regulations and bureaucracy was his main charge, he previously said. Musk saw spending cuts as the most important aspect of the new organization.
“All right, so Elon didn’t fire you?” Watters asked pointedly.
“No, we had a mutual discussion,” Ramaswamy responded. “I wish him well and we’re on the same page where, divide and conquer. It’s saving the country. It’s not a one-man show from top down or the bottom up. It’s all of the above. That’s what I’m in for.”
