Maryland: Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur overseeing sweeping federal spending cuts in the U.S., made a dramatic entrance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) outside Washington on Thursday, wielding a chainsaw gifted to him by Argentina’s libertarian President, Javier Milei.
“This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” Musk declared, raising the metallic red power tool before an enthusiastic crowd in National Harbor, Maryland.
The chainsaw, presented to Musk earlier in the day by Milei, was engraved with the Argentine leader’s signature slogan in Spanish: “Viva la libertad, carajo,” which loosely translates to “Long live freedom, damn it!”—a phrase Milei has used to rally support for his aggressive economic reforms.
Musk has been leading drastic government downsizing under U.S. President Donald Trump, targeting a broad range of federal employees, including bank regulators, environmental workers, and aerospace experts.
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On Thursday alone, 6,000 employees at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were informed they would be dismissed, according to a source familiar with the matter.
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As CEO of Tesla and the world’s wealthiest man, Musk has publicly praised Milei’s policies and fiery rhetoric. Before assuming office in late 2023, Milei frequently wielded a chainsaw at campaign rallies, symbolizing his commitment to slashing government bureaucracy and spending.
