Vivek Ramaswamy, the co-chair of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency, has a history of criticizing his partner Elon Musk’s ties to China, calling him a “circus monkey” and a puppet for the Chinese Communist Party. Ramaswamy has referred to Musk’s 2022 suggestion that Taiwan should become a special administrative region of China, a stance that aligns with Beijing’s interests and drew praise from Chinese officials.
Ramaswamy has also criticized Tesla’s investments in the Chinese market and Musk’s comments on Taiwan, arguing that the company is pandering to the Chinese Communist Party for business benefits, such as regulatory approvals and tax breaks. He has said that he believes Tesla is “increasingly beholden to China” and that Musk will “jump like a circus monkey” when Xi Jinping calls.
Musk and Ramaswamy share a goal of cutting federal regulations and reducing the federal workforce through their work in the Department of Government Efficiency. However, Musk’s role as the leader of companies with lucrative government contracts has raised concerns about his potential conflicts of interest. Ramaswamy’s own words could be used by critics to question Musk’s role in the department.
Ramaswamy’s critiques of Musk have been sharp, with him saying that the Tesla CEO has demonstrated a willingness to change his political stance based on the benefits he receives from doing business in China. He has also accused Musk of being beholden to the Chinese Communist Party and of prioritizing his business interests over the interests of the United States.
Musk’s comments on Taiwan, including his suggestion that it should become a special administrative region of China, have drawn criticism from Ramaswamy, who has said that it is clear that Musk is trying to curry favor with the Chinese government. Ramaswamy has also pointed out that Tesla’s dependence on China is a “great threat” to the United States and has argued that Musk’s push to advance electric vehicle manufacturing has made America less competitive in fossil fuel production.