'Chainsaw for bureaucracy': Argentina's Milei brings a special gift for Musk | Watch video

Argentina’s President Javier Milei gifted Elon Musk, the head of the United States’ new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a shiny chainsaw ahead of the billionaire’s address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday. Milei is known for wielding a chainsaw and gifted it to Musk in support of Doge’s campaign to slash federal spending.

Before the event, both Milei and Musk sat down for a 45-minute meeting on Thursday afternoon. According to a communiqué from the president’s office, Musk expressed renewed admiration for Milei’s policies during their meeting. “They both stressed the urgency of deregulating the economy and emphasized the importance of fighting the cultural battle on all fronts to combat visions such as that of John Maynard Keynes,” the president’s office said in a statement.

The Argentine president is also known for cutting government spending. Within one year of taking office, his administration cut government spending in Argentina by 30 per cent. He gifted the tech billionaire a chainsaw with his name engraved on the handle and Milei’s trademark “¡Viva La Libertad, Carajo!” (Long Live Freedom, Damn It) along the blade.

‘Chainsaw for bureaucracy’: Musk

The Tesla CEO accepted the fifth from Milei before the latter retreated backstage, Musk went on to wield the chainsaw, drawing applause from the crowd. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy! Yeah, chainsaw!” he said, pumping it above his head. Milei smiled and waved at the cheering crowd from behind, he was due to address CPAC on Saturday afternoon.

The Tesla CEO also came in unusual attire, he was seen wearing reflective sunglasses, a heavy gold chain and a black Maga hat, opened his remarks by saying he wanted to “get good things done, but also you know have a good time doing it.” Milei and Musk have been expressing support for each other ever since the Argentine leader started vying for the top job.

The billionaire was one of the first people to congratulate Milei on X when he won the Argentinian presidential race in 2023. They have since met several times, with Milei visiting Musk’s Tesla factory last April. Even before the Thursday meeting Milei fiercely defended Musk in the aftermath of his apparent Nazi salute following President Donald Trump’s inauguration. “NAZI MY A**,” he wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Musk has expressed his “interest” in Argentina’s lithium reserves and at the Thursday meeting, the pair have discussed organizing a “large event in Argentina” to promote their shared ideas, Buenos Aires Herald reported.