Elon Musk expressed regret Tuesday for his chainsaw-wielding performance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, admitting the stunt "lacked empathy" as tensions with former ally Donald Trump continue to escalate. The tech mogul's rare moment of contrition comes months after he concluded his controversial tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which oversaw steep federal budget cuts.
Musk responded to criticism on X from user Jim Spradlin, who wrote that the billionaire "shouldn't have taken the chainsaw on stage and acted a fool" and "could have gotten more done if you weren't so worried about looking cool"1.
"Valid point," Musk replied Tuesday. "Milei gave me the chainsaw backstage and I ran with it, but, in retrospect, it lacked empathy"123.
The admission represents a notable shift for Musk, who has rarely walked back his public performances. According to Business Insider, the comment came as Musk was posting about the debt ceiling and government spending1. His relationship with Trump has deteriorated after Musk became one of the most vocal opponents of the president's spending legislation1.
The chainsaw moment occurred during Musk's February appearance at CPAC, where Argentine President Javier Milei presented him with the gilded power tool that had become a symbol of Milei's own budget-cutting campaign12. Wearing a black MAGA hat and sunglasses, Musk brandished the chainsaw above his head while declaring, "This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy"12.
According to Politico, Musk received "some of the most raucous applause at the gathering" and told the crowd, "I am become meme"3. The stunt was intended to symbolize his mission to slash federal spending through DOGE45.
Musk officially concluded his role at DOGE on May 30, 2025, after a 130-day tenure as a "special government employee," according to Benzinga1. During his time leading the department, Musk oversaw what critics described as severe cuts to federal agencies23.
The chainsaw incident initially energized conservative audiences but later drew criticism as the human costs of aggressive budget cuts became apparent3. Horror film fans had compared the performance to "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" when it first occurred4.
"Milei gave me the chainsaw backstage and I ran with it, but, in retrospect, it lacked empathy," Musk wrote Tuesday5, a statement that reflects both his distance from Trump's current administration and a rare acknowledgment of the stunt's reception.
