Elon Musk made a dramatic entrance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, donning a gold chain, black MAGA hat, and sunglasses, and brandishing a chainsaw. The tech mogul exuded confidence as he took the stage, boasting about his efforts to challenge the federal bureaucracy and dismiss the Democratic opposition as fake during a sit-down interview with Newsmax host Rob Schmitt. When asked to describe the inner workings of his mind, Musk cryptically referred to it as “a storm.”
As Musk addressed the crowd outside of Washington, he declared, “I am become meme,” embracing his larger-than-life persona. The audience was enthralled by his eccentric appearance, showering him with a standing ovation and raucous applause.
During his time in office, President Donald Trump has found an ally in Musk, who has been actively working to reduce federal grants, shrink the government workforce, and limit the reach of agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Musk’s conservative stance has energized Republicans, despite his previous support for Democrats and recent criticism from some key figures in the MAGA movement.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has been particularly vocal in his attacks on Musk, referring to him as a “parasitic illegal immigrant” and accusing him of disregarding American values. Musk, in turn, has dismissed Bannon as a “great talker, but not a great doer.” The tension between the two figures was palpable at CPAC, where Bannon continued to criticize Musk, warning that “the oligarchs” would eventually turn against the right.
Despite facing backlash from some conservative activists for his support of H-1B visas, Musk has remained steadfast in his beliefs. At CPAC, Bannon followed Musk on stage, setting the stage for a potential clash between two factions of the Republican Party. However, Bannon opted to take a more subdued approach, refraining from direct attacks on Musk.
While Bannon may have tempered his criticism, Musk continues to face scrutiny from within the conservative movement. Despite this, he has garnered praise from other speakers at the conference. Former Trump aide Ric Grenell commended Musk for his efforts to save money and benefit the world, while international figures like Liz Truss and Mateusz Morawiecki expressed admiration for his work.
During his conversation with Schmitt, Musk dismissed Democratic protests as “fake rallies” and expressed doubts about the authenticity of the left. He also touched on the challenges of managing his own security and hinted at a political transformation, admitting, “when I realized I was a fool.”
Despite the controversies surrounding him, Musk remains unfazed by criticism and speculation. He shrugged off concerns about profiting from data and joked about stealing Social Security to buy “nice things.” As for rumors linking him to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Musk quipped, “He can’t afford me.”
