Marko Elez

Marko Elez (born 1999 or 2000) is a software engineer and a former government employee as part of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He has come under public scrutiny after being granted administrator-level access to critical U.S. Treasury payment systems as part of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He has no previous experience in government or finance.

Quotes

• I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.
  • June 2024. Quoted in Long, Katherine (February 6, 2025). "DOGE Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts" (in en-US). The Wall Street Journal. 

• Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool.
  • July 2024. Quoted in Long, Katherine (February 6, 2025). "DOGE Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts" (in en-US). The Wall Street Journal. 

• You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity.
  • September 2024. Quoted in Long, Katherine (February 6, 2025). "DOGE Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts" (in en-US). The Wall Street Journal. 

• Normalize Indian hate.
  • September 2024. Quoted in Long, Katherine (February 6, 2025). "DOGE Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts" (in en-US). The Wall Street Journal. 

• 99% of Indian H1Bs will be replaced by slightly smarter LLMs, they’re going back don’t worry guys.
  • December 2024. Quoted in Long, Katherine (February 6, 2025). "DOGE Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts" (in en-US). The Wall Street Journal. 

Quotes about Marko Elez

• He will be brought back. To err is human, to forgive divine.
  • Elon Musk, February 2025. Member of Elon Musk's DOGE team resigns after racist posts resurface. National Public Radio.

• Here’s my view: I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life. We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever. So I say bring him back. If he’s a bad dude or a terrible member of the team, fire him for that.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance, February 2025. Member of Elon Musk's DOGE team resigns after racist posts resurface. National Public Radio. Staffer at Musk’s DOGE resigns after racist social media posts exposed. CNBC.

• 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.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance, February 2025. Staffer at Musk’s DOGE resigns after racist social media posts exposed. CNBC.