JD Vance Gaslights Critics After Rehiring Racist Marko Elez: Is MAGA Anti-Indian?
Elon Musk and JD Vance Face Outrage Over Rehiring of Racist Former DOGE Employee
A recent controversy has shaken the political landscape, exposing the contradictions within the MAGA movement. Marko Elez, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee, made headlines after his past racist social media posts resurfaced. Among them was the disturbing phrase: “Normalize Indian Hate.” The backlash was swift, leading to Elez’s resignation. However, Elon Musk, backed by Vice President JD Vance, reinstated him after conducting a poll on X (formerly Twitter).
This decision has ignited outrage, particularly among Indian-Americans, highlighting the selective forgiveness within MAGA. Why was Elez—who explicitly promoted hate—given another chance, while Indian-American MAGA figure Vivek Ramaswamy was quietly pushed out of DOGE without any public support?
JD Vance’s Response: Gaslighting or Genuine Belief?
Rather than addressing why he supported Elez, JD Vance took to X to dismiss critics, framing their concerns as “emotional blackmail.”
“For the sake of both of our kids? Grow up,” Vance tweeted. “Racist trolls on the internet, while offensive, don’t threaten my kids. You know what does? A culture that denies grace to people who make mistakes. A culture that encourages Congressmen to act like whiny children.”
His dismissive stance backfired, with critics pointing out that Elez’s statement targeted Indian-Americans—a group that includes Vance’s own wife and children. Congressman Ro Khanna called him out, asking, “Are you going to tell him to apologize for saying ‘Normalize Indian Hate’ before this rehire?”
Journalist Wajahat Ali was even more direct:
“Your wife is Indian American. Your kids are Indian American. Elez said he wants to ‘normalize Indian hate.’ Have some pride, man. Have some dignity. For your family’s sake, you pathetic Reek.”
Meanwhile, social media exploded with frustration. One user wrote:
“Easy for JD Vance to say this when his kids have 24/7 security. What about regular Indian kids made vulnerable by this normalization of online hatred?”
The Double Standard: Why Was Vivek Ramaswamy Treated Differently?
The hypocrisy of MAGA’s response is impossible to ignore.
When Elez was called out for blatant racism, Musk and JD Vance rushed to defend him, arguing for “forgiveness.” Yet, when Vivek Ramaswamy, once hailed as MAGA’s rising star, was removed from DOGE, he was given no public support. No poll. No reinstatement. Just silence.
Indian-American conservatives, who once believed in MAGA’s message of meritocracy, now feel betrayed. Harshil, an Indian-American commentator, put it bluntly:
“While Vivek Ramaswamy was deselected for DOGE, Elez has the backing of Vance for saying ‘Normalize Indian Hate.’ Indian-Americans, this is straight to your face. No matter how much you succeed, you will always be a second-class citizen.”
Musk’s Flippant Justification: “To Err Is Human”
Musk, after conducting a poll where 78% of X users voted for Elez’s return, defended the decision with a dismissive tweet:
“He will be brought back. To err is human, to forgive divine.”
Trump also backed Vance, saying, “I’m with the Vice President.” Yet, this so-called “forgiveness” stands in stark contrast to MAGA’s past actions:
- Black NFL players kneeling for the anthem? Permanent bans demanded.
- Liberals “canceled” for offensive remarks? MAGA calls for boycotts and firings.
- An Indian-American MAGA figure removed? Silence.
The Pagan Problem: MAGA’s Uneasy Relationship with Indian-Americans
Indian-Americans like Usha Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sriram Krishnan have made inroads within MAGA’s political and business circles. Yet, their presence is often met with hostility from MAGA’s nativist and evangelical factions.
An earlier report highlighted online attacks against Usha Vance, JD Vance’s wife:
- “Christ is King, not some stinky Indian idol.”
- “Will there be a cow in the White House soon?”
Despite these attacks, MAGA leaders—including JD Vance himself—have largely ignored or downplayed the bigotry within their own ranks. The message is clear: Indian-Americans may be allowed in MAGA circles, but they will never be truly embraced.
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