Gift from Milei

Musk wields chainsaw on stage on live TV

Elon Musk wields the "bureaucracy" chainsaw of Argentina's President Milei.(Bild: AFP/Getty Images/Andrew Harnik)

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is known for his strange appearances. But he has a talent for making them even more bizarre and surprising. This time, he surprised the astonished audience on live TV with a "bureaucratic chainsaw".

Elon Musk was a surprise guest at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference in Washington DC on Thursday.

A gift was announced to him live on stage as a "surprise". Shortly afterwards, Argentinian President Javier Milei takes to the stage, proudly presenting a red, silver and gold chainsaw, which he hands to Musk, beaming. 

"This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy!" shouted Musk enthusiastically.(Bild: EPA)

Engraved on the chainsaw is "Viva la libertad, carajo", Spanish for "Long live freedom, damn it".(Bild: AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

(Bild: AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

(Bild: AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

(Bild: AFP/2025 Getty Images)

(Bild: AFP/Getty Images/Andrew Harnik)

"Chainsaw for the bureaucracy"
Musk hardly seems surprised. He grabs the tool as if it were an ordinary bouquet of flowers. He shakes Milei's hand gratefully. Shortly afterwards, he raises the chainsaw and lets out an animalistic sound. "This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy," he shouts enthusiastically into the jeering audience.

"Viva la libertad, carajo" ("Long live freedom, damn it") is engraved on the saw blade.

Background: Milei had made the chainsaw a symbol during his successful candidacy for the Argentinian presidency in 2023 - for the deep cuts he had made to the country's public spending. However, even then he did not have such an exclusive edition at his disposal ...