Musk Wields ‘Chainsaw for Bureaucracy’ at CPAC

The News

Elon Musk made a dramatic appearance at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, wielding a gilded chainsaw gifted by Argentine President Javier Milei as a symbol of his crusade against government bureaucracy.

Musk energized the conservative crowd with promises to slash federal spending and downsize the workforce.

Key Takeaways

DOGE and Government Cuts

Musk, as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), highlights massive federal spending cuts, claiming tens of billions already saved. He jokes about auditing the Federal Reserve and repeatedly references “fighting bureaucracy,” underscoring the Trump administration’s emphasis on aggressive government downsizing.

Cultural & Media Critiques

Musk denounces “cancel culture,” calls for “legalizing comedy,” and insists the mainstream media is state-run due to government funding. He champions unfiltered free speech and rails against what he deems orchestrated narratives, gaining applause from an already pro-Trump crowd.

Fort Knox & Federal Reserve

Musk teases the prospect of “opening” Fort Knox for public viewing to ensure the nation’s gold reserves are intact. He also suggests a possible audit of the Federal Reserve, aligning with the administration’s stance on government transparency and skepticism toward large institutions.

Immigration Criticisms

Musk and host Rob Schmitt criticize alleged government funding of sanctuary policies, describing them as a means for importing future Democratic voters. Musk claims he sees “fraud everywhere,” and calls the previous administration’s approach to immigration a “voter importation scheme.”

Ukraine War & Foreign Policy

Musk echoes Trump’s stance on ending the war in Ukraine, deeming it driven by “graft machines.” He argues that continuing the conflict costs lives unnecessarily, suggesting the administration’s more pragmatic or isolationist lean toward foreign entanglements.

Personal Safety & ‘Matrix’ Theme

Musk jokes about the heightened security around him and references “fighting the Matrix,” positioning himself as a rebel crusading against entrenched systems. He downplays concerns about personal risk and claims that world leaders like El Salvador’s Bukele have warned him about potential dangers.

Reactions

Javier Milei: “Elon is liberating America from the deep state. This chainsaw is just the beginning.”

CPAC attendees gave Musk some of the most enthusiastic applause of the conference.

What's next

At least 11 lawsuits are currently challenging DOGE over data access and privacy laws, all claiming violations of the Privacy Act of 1974.