Washington DC [US], February 21 (ANI): Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a striking appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday, wielding a chainsaw as a symbolic gesture of his campaign to reduce federal bureaucracy. The demonstration aligned with former President Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) panel, The Hill reported.
Dressed in a black “Make America Great Again” cap and sunglasses, Musk was joined on stage by Argentine President Javier Milei, who is known for using a chainsaw as a political prop to signify his commitment to cutting government inefficiency. Milei handed Musk the chainsaw, prompting Musk to raise it towards the crowd and declare, “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy.”
Milei, who gained prominence in Argentina by pledging to overhaul the country’s government and economy, frequently uses the chainsaw as an emblem of his mission to downsize his nation’s federal system.
Musk also criticized mainstream media, stating that their frequent use of the phrase “threat to democracy” should be replaced with “threat to bureaucracy” to better reflect reality. He remarked, “The legacy media all say the same thing at the same time. They’re mouthpieces for the state. They’re always saying ‘threat to democracy,’ but if you just replaced democracy with bureaucracy, it makes a lot of sense.”
Meanwhile, former Trump aide and White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon took the stage to discuss the confirmation of Kash Patel as the new FBI Director. Bannon proclaimed, “This is a glorious day. A glorious day, and do you know why? Kash Patel is the director of the FBI, confirmed by the US Senate…”
Following his confirmation on Thursday, Patel, a close ally of President Trump, expressed his gratitude and pledged to restore transparency, accountability, and justice to the FBI. He thanked Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their support, emphasizing his commitment to rebuilding public trust in the agency.
Patel’s nomination faced opposition from Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, but ultimately received backing from the remainder of the Republican Party, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously opposed other Trump nominees. The confirmation passed with a narrow 51-49 vote, with all Senate Democrats voting against him, according to NBC News.
Elon Musk’s Bureaucracy Crackdown Faces Backlash, Potential GOP Fallout
Washington DC [USA], February 26 (ANI): Elon Musk’s aggressive push to slash federal bureaucracy is facing growing opposition, raising concerns within the Republican Party that the turmoil could negatively impact President Donald Trump and the GOP, CNN reported.
Musk’s recent actions, including asking federal employees to justify their productivity, have sparked confusion and resistance, even among some Republican allies. Some worry that the chaos could hinder Trump’s broader policy agenda.
According to CNN, “Elon Musk’s chainsaw is not only slashing away at bureaucracy but is also generating early warning signs that it could ultimately cut into the political standing of President Donald Trump and his MAGA allies.”
Reports indicate that political risks for Republicans are increasing as court defeats pile up, and conflicting directives from Musk—who has taken on a government cost-cutting role—have led to administrative confusion.
CNN further noted, “Trump often thrives in the chaos he creates, and Musk’s aggressive dismantling of the civil service is a direct response to voter frustration expressed in last year’s election. For some in Trump’s base who embrace anti-elite rhetoric, forcing federal workers into uncertainty may be a political victory in itself. Among conservatives more broadly, cutting government remains a perennial goal.”
However, opposition is beginning to emerge even among Trump’s staunchest supporters. Reports suggest that some of the most committed Make America Great Again (MAGA) Cabinet members have raised concerns over Musk’s directive demanding federal employees account for their weekly work. They fear that the confusion and morale decline could obstruct Trump’s policy execution.
Some congressional Republicans are already feeling the heat from their constituents, with several House Republicans seeking advice on how to manage the growing unrest. Additionally, concerns over the human toll of Musk’s firings—such as their impact on federal workers and their families—are gaining traction, as affected employees have begun lobbying Senate offices for action.
New York Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis told CNN’s Manu Raju, “Things are happening so fast and furiously. We need to take a step back and make sure that we’re rooting out waste, fraud, and mismanagement while avoiding unintended consequences.”
The situation continues to escalate, with court challenges mounting against the administration’s sweeping personnel cuts. Some analysts believe that if public sentiment turns against Musk, it could transform into broader resistance to Trump’s policies—potentially making Musk a political liability for the president. (ANI)
