Elon Musk emerges as a key figure at CPAC.

The tech billionaire took the spotlight at CPAC on Thursday as a surprise guest, using a chainsaw to represent his cuts to the government.

At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the main speaker for the day was expected to be Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump’s former advisor and host of the “War Room” podcast. Bannon has been a regular at CPAC, but this year, the event took an unexpected turn when tech billionaire Elon Musk made a surprise appearance.

Elon Musk’s presence marked his first appearance at CPAC, and it highlighted his rising influence in conservative politics, even though some conservative groups, including Bannon and his supporters, have been skeptical of him. During his speech, Musk joined Newsmax host Rob Schmitt for a live interview. Wearing a gold chain and mirrored sunglasses, Musk spoke about various topics, including his belief that the cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE) was “fighting the Matrix” and the idea of offering a live tour of Fort Knox for Americans to see the country’s gold reserves.

Musk’s speech was not the most energetic of the conference, but it still gained a lot of attention. Many attendees and prominent conservatives praised elon Musk for his work in the federal government, particularly with the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which helps carry out Trump’s agenda. Even Bannon, who had previously clashed with Musk, acknowledged Musk’s efforts and called him “Superman” during his own speech later in the day.

Bannon’s tone toward Musk seemed to shift. In the past, Bannon had criticized Musk and other tech leaders, calling them “oligarchs” and opposing policies like immigration programs that Musk supports. However, after seeing Musk at CPAC, Bannon seemed to soften his stance, calling Musk a “genius engineer” and acknowledging his contributions to Trump’s administration.

Despite some differences in opinion, many CPAC attendees supported Musk’s role in shaping the future of the conservative movement. They believe that Musk’s ability to make significant changes in government and his efforts to reduce the deficit through spending cuts could lead to major victories for the Republican Party.

As elon Musk continues to grow his influence, his presence at CPAC shows that he is becoming a central figure in the conservative world, despite some disagreements and past tensions. His actions, such as pushing for government efficiency and supporting free speech, are helping to reshape the direction of the Republican Party, even if there are still debates on the best path forward.

Elon Musk’s surprise appearance at CPAC solidified his growing role in conservative politics, with praise from both old and new allies. While there are still reservations about his methods and ideas, Musk’s influence in shaping political discussions is clear, and it will be interesting to see how his involvement continues to evolve within the Republican Party.