Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk are teaming up to help run Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but their partnership might not have started on the best terms. A new report from CNN reveals that Ramaswamy ridiculed Musk, calling him a “circus monkey” over his views on China.
Ramaswamy has often criticized Musk for his support of China’s government. In 2022, after Musk suggested that Taiwan should become part of China, Ramaswamy blasted him. He said, “I think Tesla is increasingly beholden to China,” and added, “I have no reason to think Elon won’t jump like a circus monkey when Xi Jinping calls in the hour of need.”
Ramaswamy also suggested that Musk changes his political views based on business interests, particularly to keep his companies running in China.
“Elon Musk has demonstrated his willingness to change his political tunes based on the favors that he gets to do business in China,” he said on a Fox News podcast.
CNN’s report highlights that Ramaswamy’s past comments could raise questions about Musk’s role in cutting government costs, especially since Musk’s companies have received significant government support over the years. Ramaswamy has also criticized Musk for relying on government subsidies to grow his businesses, saying that both Tesla and SpaceX might not have been as successful without public funding.
Watch the conversation below:
