RAMASWAMY: So I think the diversity equity inclusion agenda has been abused. In the name of diversity we have, at many of our universities, totally sacrificed diversity of thought. In the name of equity, we've perpetuated a lot of inequity and inequality of opportunity through affirmative action and otherwise.

In the name of inclusion, we've created a new culture of exclusion where certain points of view aren't welcome. //

RAMASWAMY: So especially in a university setting, what do I care about? Diversity of viewpoint. This is important, actually. I think diversity of viewpoint is part of what this country was built on.

Well, the best way to foster diversity of viewpoint is to screen candidates for the diversity of their views, actually. Many look at the board members of many universities. You got to go through their partisan affiliation. It's not 80-20. It's going to be like 90-10 in the other direction.

That's completely at odds with the representation of this country. //

RAMASWAMY: So do I value diversity of viewpoint? Absolutely. Do I think we're doing a good job of that? No, we're not, and it's not an accident. In the name of diversity, we've actually created a new culture of conformity.

And so I think it's entirely possible to have a group of 10 people who look similar to one another, who have different views. I think it's entirely possible to have a group of 10 people who look different from one another or look the same as one another but have different views or look different from one another and have the same views.

All the programs that were put in place to combat racism actually create more racism.

And so I think the best way to screen candidates for the diversity of their experiences is to actually ask them about the diversity of their experiences. And I think the use of these racial and gender quota systems, I think they have actually created a new form of racism in the United States that otherwise would not have existed. //

It's sad to me. I mean, I've hired -- not because I was thinking about it consciously -- plenty of black women in different positions of authority in this campaign or other companies or whatever.

And I can tell you, it saddens me. When people look at somebody who I hired on the basis of merit, and say that they only got that job because of their race or gender, that doesn't do anybody a favor.

And so I think if we restore true meritocracy in this country and embrace true diversity of thought, chances are we're actually going to have a bunch of different shades of melanin and a range of genders in different positions.

But let it be not the goal. Let it just be a byproduct of actually selecting for people who are the best person for the job, and especially in a university setting, diverse viewpoints as well. //

DEI must DIE.

The point was to end discrimination, not replace it with different discrimination.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 15, 2023