Senator JD Vance has publicly called for the rehiring of Marko Elez, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) engineer, who resigned following revelations of his controversial social media posts, including one that stated “normalize Indian hate” on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
Vance, whose wife is the daughter of Indian immigrants, acknowledged that while he disagreed with some of Elez’s statements, he believed a person’s career should not be ruined over social media activity.
“So I say bring him back,” Vance posted on X. “If he’s a bad dude or a terrible member of the team, fire him for that.”
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Elez’s past social media activity on Thursday, revealing that he had resigned from his role at DOGE after the White House was asked to comment on his alleged posts. The leaked messages, from a burner account under the handle @nullllptr, contained racially charged remarks directed at Indian immigrants in the tech sector.
Among his most controversial posts, Elez allegedly wrote:
- “Normalize Indian hate.”
- “I was racist before it was cool.”
- “99% of Indian H1Bs will be replaced by slightly smarter LLMs, they’re going back don’t worry guys.” (Referencing Large Language Models, a form of AI technology used in software development.)
His posts surfaced amid an ongoing debate within the MAGA movement regarding the H1-B foreign worker visa program, which Elon Musk supports but Trump ally Steve Bannon wants abolished.
Following the controversy, Elon Musk posted a poll on X, asking users whether Elez should be rehired at DOGE despite his statements. The majority of users voted in favor of reinstating Elez, further amplifying the divide over whether past social media activity should dictate professional consequences.
Vance, in his defense of Elez, also took aim at journalists who expose individuals based on old social media activity, writing:
“We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever.”
Before working at DOGE, Marko Elez, a Rutgers University graduate, held positions at SpaceX, Starlink, and X (formerly Twitter). His role at DOGE granted him access to the Treasury Department’s top-secret payment system, raising security concerns in light of his publicly surfaced views.
The debate surrounding Elez’s firing and potential reinstatement has sparked national discourse on the limits of free speech, the impact of social media history on employment, and the growing tension over U.S. immigration policies in the tech sector.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains unclear whether DOGE or the federal government will reinstate Elez, despite Musk and Vance’s support for his return.