In a scene straight out of a political thriller, Elon Musk electrified the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, strutting onto the stage wielding a roaring chainsaw—a bold prop handed to him by Argentine President Javier Milei, known for his libertarian zeal and anti-bureaucracy stance. The crowd erupted in cheers as Musk brandished the tool, declaring with a grin, “THIS IS THE CHAINSAW FOR BUREAUCRACY!” The moment, captured in a viral video shared by journalist Nick Sortor on X, has sent shockwaves through the conservative base and struck fear into the heart of what many call the “deep state.”
Video:
He also gave this statement:
🚨 ELON MUSK: “People say I'm a bought asset of Putin. I'm like, he can't afford me.”
LMAO
pic.twitter.com/Q3zcHk55yX— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 20, 2025
Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump, used the dramatic entrance to underscore his mission: slashing wasteful government spending and dismantling the bloated federal bureaucracy that’s long plagued taxpayers. “We’re not just trimming fat—we’re cutting deep into the roots of inefficiency,” Musk proclaimed, waving the chainsaw as the audience roared with approval. His fiery rhetoric targeted the entrenched Washington elites, whom he accused of resisting Trump’s agenda to streamline operations and save billions.
The chainsaw, a symbolic gift from Milei, who’s made headlines for slashing Argentina’s government payrolls, perfectly captured the spirit of the moment. Milei’s own use of a chainsaw at rallies to signify his commitment to economic reform has become iconic, and Musk’s adoption of the prop signaled a shared vision with Trump’s administration: radical reform through decisive action. “The deep state trembles because they know we’re serious,” Musk added, drawing parallels to DOGE’s recent revelations, like the millions of fraudulent Social Security records exposed last week, which conservatives hailed as proof of systemic waste.
Critics, including some Democrats and legacy media outlets, slammed the stunt as “reckless grandstanding,” but CPAC attendees saw it as a rallying cry. “This is what we voted for—someone who’ll take on the swamp with no apologies,” said one attendee, echoing the sentiment on X, where #ChainsawMusk trended alongside #Trump2025.
Musk’s appearance comes as DOGE intensifies its audit of federal agencies, including IRS cuts and ICE operation protections under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s recent lie detector plan for leakers. His CPAC declaration—“We’re not stopping until every wasteful dollar is reclaimed for the American people!”—reinforced Trump’s promise to drain the swamp, a vow that’s resonated since 2016.
For the deep state—those shadowy bureaucrats and entrenched interests resisting reform—this is more than theatrics. It’s a warning shot. With Musk’s technological prowess and Milei’s ideological fire, the Trump administration is signaling a no-holds-barred approach to government overhaul. As one X user quipped, “Elon’s chainsaw isn’t just for show—it’s for the swamp monsters hiding in D.C.!”
