You've probably seen the clip. It looks like something out of a fever dream or a mid-2000s action movie. Elon Musk, the guy who wants to put a colony on Mars, is standing on a stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland. He’s wearing oversized sunglasses and a black MAGA-style hat. Then, Argentina’s President Javier Milei walks out and hands him a customized power tool.
Elon starts waving it around. He’s making engine noises with his mouth—vroom, vroom—and the crowd is losing its mind. This wasn't just a random prop found in a backstage shed. This was the "Chainsaw for Bureaucracy."
Honestly, it’s one of those moments that feels totally surreal until you look at the politics behind it. The chainsaw has become a massive symbol for a very specific type of aggressive, "slash-and-burn" governance. If you’re trying to figure out why the world’s richest man was brandishing a wood-cutter in front of a cheering audience, you have to look at the weirdly close relationship between Musk and Milei.
Why the Chainsaw? The Milei Connection
Before Javier Milei became the President of Argentina, he was a celebrity economist who carried a real, revving chainsaw to his campaign rallies. It wasn't subtle. The message was: "I am going to saw through the state." He wanted to shred government spending, and for his supporters, the chainsaw represented the end of the "political caste" that had run Argentina’s economy into the ground.
When Milei met Musk at CPAC in February 2025, he brought a gift. But it wasn't a standard Stihl you’d pick up at Home Depot.
The Specs of the "Bureaucracy Chainsaw"
According to reports from craftsmen in Buenos Aires, this was a custom piece. A mechanic named Mariano “Tute” Di Tella, who works out of the Villa Urquiza neighborhood, actually built it. He started with a TMC MT-598—basically a 59.6cc engine with about 2.6 kilowatts of power—and turned it into a piece of political art.
- The Engraving: It features Milei’s battle cry: ¡Viva la libertad, carajo! (Long live freedom, damn it!).
- The Finish: While Milei’s personal saw has a red motor casing, Musk’s version was tweaked with a sleeker, chrome-plated look.
- The Symbolism: Musk explicitly called it the "chainsaw for bureaucracy," linking it directly to his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The DOGE Connection: Slashing More Than Wood
When Musk stood there with that tool, he wasn't just playing for the cameras. He was signaling what he intended to do with the U.S. federal budget. As the head of DOGE, Musk has been on a tear, targeting everything from the IRS to the Federal Reserve.
It’s a "chainsaw" approach to management. We saw this at Twitter (now X). He walked in, fired about 80% of the staff, and the site—despite some glitches—kept running. Now, he’s trying to apply that same logic to the United States government. He’s mentioned that "waste is pretty much everywhere" and even joked about auditing the Fed while he’s at it.
The critics, though, aren't laughing. Some analysts have pointed out that while a chainsaw is great for clearing brush, it’s a terrible tool for surgery. There’s a fear that by "sawing off" parts of the government, Musk might be taking out the "legs" of essential services—like the FAA or the EPA—that keep society functioning without us even noticing.
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Is This Just the New "Not-a-Flamethrower"?
For long-time Musk watchers, the chainsaw feels familiar. Remember 2018? The Boring Company sold 20,000 "Not-a-Flamethrowers" for $500 a pop. People thought it was a joke until they actually started showing up on people’s doorsteps.
But there’s a difference here. The flamethrower was a fund-raising gimmick for a tunnel-digging company. It was a novelty item that was basically a fancy roofing torch.
The chainsaw is different. Musk isn't selling these (at least, not yet). Instead, he’s using the tool as a visual metaphor for his political power. He told the crowd at CPAC that the chainsaw would be displayed at DOGE headquarters. It’s a trophy. It represents a shift from Musk the "Technologist" to Musk the "Dismantler."
What Critics (and Chainsaw Pros) Are Saying
If you go into the weeds of the internet—specifically places like r/Chainsaw—the reviews of Musk’s technique aren't great. Enthusiasts pointed out that waving a power tool around with an unbuttoned jacket is a great way to end up in the ER.
"Please no one wear an unbuttoned jacket while wielding a chainsaw... getting something caught in the chain is a great way to shred a huge amount of your flesh." — Reddit user comment on the CPAC footage.
Beyond the safety concerns, there’s the question of the tool itself. The TMC MT-598 is often described as a budget-friendly Chinese-made saw with an Argentinian brand name slapped on it. Some find it ironic that a man who builds high-tech rockets and electric cars is celebrating a tool that some professionals call "plastic junk."
But the quality of the piston isn't the point. The point is the noise. The point is the spectacle.
The Future of the "Chainsaw" Doctrine
As we move deeper into 2026, the "chainsaw" philosophy is being tested in real-time. Tesla is pivoting toward a "Robotaxi" future, and The Boring Company is trying to move past its experimental phase with major projects in Las Vegas and Nashville.
But Musk's focus seems split. He’s increasingly occupied with the literal deconstruction of federal agencies. Whether you think he’s a hero saving taxpayers billions or a chaos agent destroying the guardrails of democracy, the image of him with that chainsaw is the defining icon of this era.
It’s loud. It’s dangerous. And you can’t look away.
Next Steps for Understanding the Musk-Milei Alliance:
If you want to track how this "chainsaw" logic is actually affecting the economy, you should keep a close eye on the weekly DOGE "transparency" reports. These documents often outline exactly which departments are being targeted for "pruning." You can also look into the specific deregulation efforts in Argentina under Milei to see the "blueprint" Musk is likely following for his U.S. initiatives.
Watch for any announcements regarding "DOGE-branded" merchandise. Given Musk’s history with the flamethrower and "Tesla Tequila," it wouldn't be surprising if a limited-edition tool (likely electric) eventually hits the market, though for now, the CPAC saw remains a one-of-a-kind gift.