At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, tech mogul Elon Musk made a dramatic and surprising entrance. Dressed boldly in a gold chain, black MAGA hat, and sunglasses, Musk embraced his role as a challenger to federal bureaucracy and a vocal supporter of small government. The crowd went wild, according to Fox News.
To help him, he received a gift from the ultimate slasher of red tape, Argentine President Javier Milei, who presented the DOGE leader with his very own gilded chainsaw, symbolizing the desire to cut government excess.
I’m just so happy I lived long enough to see this…. pic.twitter.com/NjcZG2qw8p
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) February 20, 2025
Musk’s political journey is particularly striking given his past support for Democratic candidates. However, his recent alignment with conservative causes has energized Republicans, wrote Politico. Since the start of Donald Trump’s presidency, Musk has won favor on the right for his calls to cut federal grants, reduce the size of government agencies, and lessen the power of regulatory institutions like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Despite past criticisms from some hardline MAGA figures—such as former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who once labeled Musk a “parasitic illegal immigrant”—the tech billionaire faced little backlash on stage. Bannon himself appeared to ease up, joking about the difficulty of following “the world’s wealthiest guy” in the speaking lineup. Bannon remarked that history would remember only two things from this era: Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
Musk’s growing popularity among conservatives was evident in praise from key figures. Former Trump aide Ric Grenell highlighted Musk’s business acumen during CPAC’s international summit, while British politician Liz Truss applauded his willingness to challenge established bureaucratic systems. Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki even proposed a “DOGE initiative” in Europe, a nod to Musk’s influence in the cryptocurrency world.
Reflecting on his political evolution, Musk summed it up with characteristic bluntness: “It happened when I realized I was a fool,” noted the outlet. Judging by the enthusiastic response from CPAC attendees, Musk’s transition from leftwing Silicon Valley innovator to conservative figurehead has been completed.
[Read More: Trump Considers ‘DOGE Dividend’ To Americans]
Elon Musk, an admitted former democrat supporter, not only has seen the light but is doing something about it. He reminds me of the story about the the Frenchman General Lafayette, who volunteered to fight on Washington’s side in the Revolutionary War. Musk is a man on that same level. His genius and business sense is undeniable. Yes, his businesses are involved in America so there are benefits to being on the right side of our president. But beyond that Musk knows what is wrong with American government and he knows how to fix the waste and corruption that is killing us.