Elon Musk regrets waving chainsaw over his head onstage during CPAC: 'It lacked empathy'

Elon Musk expressed regret while responding to an X user who claimed his behavior as DOGE head had harmed the department’s work
PUBLISHED JUL 2, 2025
Elon Musk acknowledged that waving a chainsaw over his head onstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference showed a lack of empathy (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Elon Musk acknowledged that waving a chainsaw over his head onstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference showed a lack of empathy (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Tech billionaire Elon Musk expressed regret over waving a chainsaw over his head onstage during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2025, saying "it lacked empathy."

Musk made the remarks while responding to an X user who argued that the SpaceX CEO’s behavior, in his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), detracted from the department’s wo



 

Elon Musk regrets waving chainsaw over his head

An X user responded to Musk’s post that read, "Hitting the debt ceiling is the only thing that will actually force the government to cut waste and fraud. That’s why the debt ceiling legislation exists!"

The user replied, "Maybe you shouldn't have taken the chainsaw on stage and acted a fool. Maybe you could have gotten more done if you weren't so worried about looking cool."



 

The Tesla CEO then responded, "Valid point. Milei gave me the chainsaw backstage and I ran with it, but, in retrospect, it lacked empathy."

The multi-billionaire appeared to take partial responsibility for the incident but also pointed to Argentinian President Javier Milei as the one who initiated the stunt.

According to the outlet, Milei had reportedly given Musk the chainsaw as a symbol of his push to slash federal spending.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk, who served as an adviser to Trump and led the Department of Government Efficiency, announced he would leave his role in the Trump administration to refocus on his businesses. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Elon Musk speaks alongside President Donald Trump to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025, in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The moment occurred during Musk’s appearance at CPAC in February, where his erratic behavior became one of the event’s most talked-about moments.

Musk, wearing sunglasses, a gold chain, and a T-shirt under a blazer, delivered a bizarre speech at the conference, at one point declaring, "I am become meme."

Philip Low warns Elon Musk will do 'everything to damage' Donald Trump

Elon Musk's former friend, Philip Low, claimed that the ex-DOGE head would do everything he could to damage President Donald Trump.

Low shared during an interview with Politico on Monday, June 30, that he has had his share of blowouts with the Tesla CEO over the years.

"I’ve had my share of blowouts with Elon over the years. Knowing Elon the way I know him, I do think he’s going to do everything to damage the president," Low told the outlet.

Musk spoke out against Trump’s signature “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” calling it “a disgusting abomination” in an X (formerly Twitter) post in early June. 



 

He renewed his attacks against the bill on June 28, arguing on X that it would destroy millions of jobs and “cause immense strategic harm to our country."

Low told Politico, “He has been humiliated. The whole idea that Elon is going to be on his side and help woo Congress and invest in election campaigns for right-wing judges, Elon might do all of that, but deep down, it’s over.”

CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel And Convention Center on February 20, 2025 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The annual four-day gathering brings together conservative U.S. lawmakers, international leaders, media personalities and businessmen to discuss and champion conservative ideas. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Elon Musk speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on February 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Low is a neuroscientist and founder of the company NeuroVigil. He has known Musk for 14 years and fired him from NeuroVigil’s advisory board after Musk expressed a desire to be removed, thereby preventing him from exercising stock options to harm the company, according to Politico.

Moreover, the report added that both Musk’s and Trump’s camps indicated tensions had cooled since their viral online spat earlier in June. The tech billionaire had apologized, and Trump said there were no “hard feelings,” as per Fox News.

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