Elon Musk served as one of the main attractions at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Thursday evening with a late-scheduled appearance that saw him wield a chainsaw and discuss a range of topics.

Musk’s appearance began with a bang when Argentine President Javier Milei came out to offer the Tesla CEO the chainsaw, which Musk brandished on stage. His subsequent interview with Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt touched on everything from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The chainsaw move, and the talk, highlighted Musk’s efforts with DOGE, which seeks to slash government spending and bureaucracy. Like Milei, who has pledged to make sweeping cuts to Argentina's government and has reportedly served as an inspiration for DOGE, Musk has embraced Trump’s vision to shake up the status quo in Washington.

But Musk’s appearance at CPAC also underscored the Tesla CEO’s growing influence and power within the GOP.

Here are 5 takeaways from Musk’s CPAC talk.

Musk the rock star

Musk, once a tech entrepreneur who largely stayed out of the political spotlight, appears to be embracing his newfound prominence in the U.S.

The tech billionaire donned a “rock star” look, wearing blacked-out sunglasses, a black “Make America Great Again" hat and a chain, along with a black graphic t-shirt and pants.

He later quipped that it was a “dark, gothic MAGA” look.

Shortly after coming out on stage, Milei surprised the crowd, handing Musk a gifted chainsaw.

Upon holding it in the air, Musk screamed, “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” prompting cheers from the crowd.

The move suggested the tech........

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