Elon Musk Brings a Chainsaw to CPAC, Takes Aim at Washington Bureaucracy
Elon Musk isn’t just talking about cutting government red tape—he’s ready to slice through it, literally. The billionaire tech mogul made a surprise appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., where he took the stage wielding a chainsaw.
Musk, who now heads the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, showed up at the annual conservative gathering alongside Argentina’s President Javier Milei. In a dramatic moment, Milei gifted him a chainsaw—complete with a silver blade and an engraving on the side.
A video from the event shows Musk enthusiastically shaking Milei’s hand before gleefully revving up the chainsaw (well, making the sounds himself) and swinging it around like a kid with a new toy. He dubbed it the “Chainsaw for Bureaucracy,” making it clear that he’s all about slashing through Washington’s regulatory red tape.
This spectacle comes amid massive cuts to the federal workforce. Thousands of employees from agencies like USAID and diversity initiatives have already been let go, with reports indicating that several thousand IRS agents will be dismissed next. Clearly, Musk and former President Donald Trump are making a statement about their push to downsize the federal government.
And they’re doing it with a bit of showmanship—because who can forget Trump waving a sword while dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” during his inauguration weekend?
While Musk seemed to be having a blast at CPAC, he might have some personal matters to address. Conservative commentator Ashley St. Clair, a frequent guest on Fox News, claims Musk has ghosted her after she gave birth to his child. Meanwhile, musician Grimes publicly urged him to call her, saying one of their children needs medical attention.
For now, though, it looks like Musk is more focused on shaking up Washington than sorting out his personal life.
