Elon Musk has confirmed Marko Elez’s return to his role in the “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge), despite backlash over Elez’s past association with a racist social media account.
Decision to Reinstate
On Friday, Musk announced on X that Elez, a former member of the
Doge unit, would be reinstated. Elez had resigned after a social media account he owned came under fire for promoting racist views. The account, now deleted, contained offensive posts about different ethnic groups. Musk defended his decision on X, saying, “To err is human, to forgive divine.”
One post from Elez’s account read, “Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool.” Another comment criticized Indian professionals in
Silicon Valley. Musk’s move followed a poll on X, where 78% of voters supported Elez’s return.
Political Support and Backlash
Musk’s decision was backed by Vice President JD Vance. Vance called Elez a “kid” and argued that past social media activity shouldn’t define someone’s future.
President Trump also expressed support, saying, “If the vice president said that … I’m with the vice president.”
However, Elez’s reinstatement has raised concerns. His past comments about H-1B visa holders, especially his claim that many Indian workers would be replaced by AI, sparked debate. Musk’s views on H-1B visas have varied. His stance often clashes with parts of the
MAGA movement, like Steve Bannon, who advocates for stricter immigration policies.
Government Access Controversy
Elez’s return has raised questions about his past role in sensitive government operations. He was part of a legal dispute regarding his access to the U.S. government’s payment system, which holds sensitive financial data. A court ruled that Elez and another Doge worker could keep access, but they could not alter or share the data.
This reinstatement occurs amid concerns about Musk’s influence. His Doge unit has pushed for cuts to U.S. agencies, including
USAID. Critics argue that Musk’s efforts have disrupted government operations and caused uncertainty about the future of essential programs.
