The backlash escalated Thursday, when Vivek Ramaswamy, in a post on X, criticized an American culture that he said “venerated mediocrity over excellence.”

WASHINGTON – Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are urging lawmakers not to pass a government funding extension that would prevent a major shutdown at the end of the week.

Democrats are largely skeptical of Elon Musk's push to ax wasteful government spending. But some in the party aren't fully dismissing the DOGE goals.