Argentine President Javier Milei electrified the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) with a fiery defense of his chainsaw methods to dismantle government bureaucracy. Drawing parallels between his reforms and Elon Musk’s approach to corporate restructuring, Milei declared:
The only rational path is to shrink the state as much as possible – this is justice itself.
Milei’s Saturday speech highlighted his alliance with Donald Trump, who publicly endorsed Argentina’s aggressive government reduction policies. The libertarian leader referenced Musk’s viral CPAC moment waving an engraved chainsaw – a symbol of their shared vision to eliminate wasteful systems while preserving functional institutions.
Key elements of Milei’s strategy include:
- Mass layoffs of 50,000+ public sector workers
- Drastic pension cuts to avoid national default
- Elimination of 18 federal agencies
The Argentine president revealed Musk consulted him about forming a U.S. taskforce to streamline federal operations during private talks with Trump. This collaboration underscores growing global momentum for radical fiscal reforms among conservative leaders.
Milei’s appearance coincided with European allies reinforcing transatlantic ties. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni emphasized NATO unity despite Trump’s controversial Ukraine remarks, stating:
Europe remains America’s crucial partner against Russian aggression.
As world leaders navigate economic crises and geopolitical tensions, Milei’s chainsaw methods offer a polarizing blueprint for government transformation. With Trump’s renewed endorsement and Musk’s symbolic support, these austerity measures could influence policy debates ahead of critical 2024 elections.