Elon Musk, the billionaire given the responsibility to streamline U.S. government expenses, made a notable appearance at a conservative conference near Washington on Thursday, where he received an unusual gift from Argentine President Javier Milei: a chainsaw.
“This is a tool for tackling bureaucracy,” Musk declared, lifting the gleaming chainsaw high during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.
The vibrant red chainsaw, bestowed upon Musk by Milei, featured an inscription of the president’s well-known slogan in Spanish: “¡Viva la libertad, carajo!”, which translates to “Long live freedom, damn it!” Musk is at the forefront of significant budget cuts implemented by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which have led to substantial reductions in funding for various regulatory agencies, forestry workers, rocket scientists, and countless other government employees.
On the same day, it was reported that 6,000 staff members at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service had been notified of their impending layoffs, according to a source familiar with the situation.
As the CEO of Tesla and currently the wealthiest individual in the world, Musk has been a vocal supporter of Milei’s rhetoric.
Prior to Milei’s ascent to the presidency of Argentina at the close of 2023, he was frequently seen wielding a chainsaw at electoral events as a symbol of his commitment to cutting government expenditure.
Llegó la motosierra a DOGE…!!!
The Chainsaw has arrived at DOGE…!!!VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO
Cc: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/jr7vwwGFKU— Javier Milei (@JMilei) February 20, 2025
