Elon Musk waved around a chainsaw onstage at a huge right-wing conference in Washington.
The erratic tech billionaire made a surprise appearance at CPAC, a pro-Trump event – wearing dark glasses and a black MAGA hat.
After welcoming Musk to the stage, host Rob Schmitt told the huge crowd there was another surprise – and that Argentinian President Javier Milei had a gift for Musk.
Milei came onto the stage carrying a large black and red chainsaw, which he gave to Musk – who waved it around, shouting “The chainsaw of democracy! Chainsaw! Wooo!”
He also referred to the implement as “the DOGE sword”.
Musk took to the stage shortly after Nigel Farage praised him in his speech to CPAC.
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Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
“You then couldn’t say anything about vaccines or about lockdowns without social media closing you down.
“And then along came the hero of free speech, Elon Musk.”
The months following November 2020 saw repeated false claims on social media and elsewhere that Donald Trump had won the US presidential election.
The Reform leader went on to praise Mr Musk’s work at the head of the “Department for Government Efficiency” (Doge), which has slashed US government projects over the past month in ways that have been challenged in the courts.
He said: “I believe that the talents of the world ‘s most successful businessman, going into this amazing Doge project, I wish him all the luck in the world and godspeed, I really, really do.”
Mr Farage’s praise of the Tesla and SpaceX owner follows an apparent rift between the two men in January, when Mr Musk said he “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead his party to victory.
The dispute centred on Mr Musk’s support for jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – something Mr Farage has consistently refused to do.
Until that point, Mr Musk appeared to have supported Mr Farage, meeting him and Reform’s treasurer Nick Candy in America, while he had been rumoured to be considering a significant donation to the party.
But while Mr Farage later insisted that he was “on good terms” with Mr Musk, the billionaire also seemed to suggest Reform MP Rupert Lowe should take over as party leader.