Elon Musk at CPAC 2025: a transcript Leave a comment

Elon Musk spoke on the Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC) on Thursday, giving a wierd and infrequently inarticulate on-stage interview to Newsmax presenter Rob Schmitt. Schmitt was all smiles and enthusiasm, and managed to steer Musk by the half hour, by no means pausing to look again on the plain logical inconsistencies, varied falsehoods, and mathematical errors that littered the interview. He even did a good job of conserving the complete timeslot from devolving into web memes, though he couldn’t cease Musk from loudly saying “I’m turn into meme.” Nonetheless, the CPAC crowd ate it up.

The next is a transcript created from CPAC’s personal livestream of the occasion. That is, I emphasize, not a parody.

Flashing lights, giant screens ablaze with animated graphics paying homage to the oughties. The CPAC brand spins round as generic rap-rock blasts throughout the group.

Announcer: Girls and gents, it’s time for the DOGE replace. Please welcome Newsmax host, Rob Schmitt.

Schmitt: Man. That may be a large crowd. And they aren’t right here for me.

Schmitt: The way you guys doing? Good vibe this month, proper? After the perfect month we’ve ever had. Good to see you. Thanks for popping out. It’s good to see you. Let’s not kill any extra time, let’s deliver out Elon Musk.

Crowd goes wild. Elon Musk enters stage, pumping each fists excessive within the air, strolling barely unsteadily. He’s carrying a black MAGA baseball cap and sun shades that appear like they had been purchased in a gasoline station in 1989. He continues to pump his fists as he makes his approach in entrance of the beige arm chairs on the entrance of the stage. Rob Schmitt makes an attempt to get his consideration, however he turns and waves on the crowd.

Schmitt: We’ve received another shock, in case this wasn’t sufficient.

Musk: Effectively, President, uh, President Milei has a present for me.

Schmitt: [hamming at camera] Javier Milei from Argentina, you guys know who that’s, proper?

Milei, a friendly-looking determine who resembles Bilbo Baggins proper earlier than he Smeagolifies, enters the stage carrying a chainsaw. He presents the chainsaw to the billionaire, who then waves it round unsteadily.

Musk: This… is… the chainsaw for forms. [pumps the chainsaw in the air] CHAINSAAAW!

He takes a beat to look at the chainsaw. He’s nonetheless carrying his sun shades. He turns round and begins wandering to the opposite facet of the stage, waving the chainsaw round.

Milei lurks awkwardly within the background, attempting to wave goodbye to Musk, earlier than Schmitt takes discover.

Schmitt: Mr. President, thanks a lot. Good to satisfy you. I like it. We like it.

Musk’s consideration snaps to Milei. The 2 males shake arms with the Argentinian president, who then departs.

Musk: The place ought to we put this —

Schmitt: They need it proper right here. [moves the chainsaw] Somewhat stage prop.

Crowd screams for Elon Musk.

Musk: I really like you guys too!

Schmitt: Thanks guys. Have a seat.

The 2 males settle into the armchairs.

Schmitt: So, uh. Heheh. That was one thing.

Musk: [ineffectually suppressing grin] I’m turn into meme.

Schmitt chuckles obsequiously.

Musk: Yeah. Just about. I used to be dwelling the meme. It’s simply — I used to be dwelling the dream, and I used to be dwelling the meme, and that’s, just about what’s occurring.

Musk: I imply, DOGE began out as a meme. Give it some thought! [laughs] Now it’s actual!

Schmitt: [smiling affably] So —

Musk: [to audience, sunglasses still on] Isn’t that loopy!

Schmitt: It’s, it’s loopy.

Schmitt: Let me ask you this. A 12 months in the past, if somebody had instructed you you’d be at CPAC and dealing with the president to utterly shred [dramatic pause] the federal government — the swamp — no matter you wish to name it. Would you consider that?

Musk: No. [snickers] Nevertheless it’s cool! That is superior. And I simply wanna say, thanks on your help, I imply.

Musk: You guys are. You realize. We’re, you understand, we’re attempting to get good issues achieved, but in addition, like, you understand, have a superb time doing it and, uh, you understand, and have, like, a humorousness.

Musk: You realize. So, like, I imply, the type of the left wished to make comedy unlawful, you understand, you may’t make enjoyable of something. So that is, like, comedy suuuuuucks. It’s like, nothing’s humorous. You’ll be able to’t make enjoyable of something.

He waves his arms so emphatically that the big gold chain he’s carrying clanks in opposition to his mic.

Musk: It’s like, LEGALIZE COMEDY! YEEEAH! Legalize Comedy!

Schmitt: And we’ve shifted the complete tradition in simply the previous couple of months, the entire tradition of this nation has shifted dramatically simply due to that election.

Musk: Yeah, precisely. Freedom of speech, having enjoyable once more, it looks like we must always… We must always have a superb time. You realize?

Schmitt: I imply, it’s a good time. Everyone on this place is so excited, and I haven’t, I imply, once you discuss to conservatives, all people’s completely satisfied.

Musk: [nodding emphatically] Yeah.

Schmitt: And all people feels this nice sense of reduction, as a result of we had been going to hell for about 4 years.

Schmitt: It actually felt dangerous, particularly towards the top, it felt actually dangerous.

Musk: [still nodding] Yeah. I imply, I assumed, I assumed we had been type of heading for a degree of no return actually, you understand, till, um, that’s why it was so important that President Trump win the election and, and that there, there be a Republican majority within the Home and Senate, which, due to you [gestures generally at CPAC audience] that, that has been achieved. Yeah.

Schmitt: I wish to ask you, one of many largest questions I’ve for you is — you’ve been, you understand, politically, you weren’t actually on one facet or the opposite for a very long time. You had been a businessman, lots of people, they keep away from it now. You’re on a facet, you’ve chosen a facet. You’re sitting right here in a MAGA hat. How did that occur? What was the second?

Musk: It’s like, you understand, darkish gothic MAGA. [preens over his hat, which features MAKE AMERICA GREAT in a blackletter typeface]

Schmitt: That’s a superb one. Was there a particular second? Was there a second that all of it modified?

Musk: Yeah, once I realized I used to be a idiot.

He laughs, and his chain clanks in opposition to his mic once more.

Musk: However no, I used to be, I suppose, uh… yeah, I imply, I’d say, I used to be like, politically impartial for, for fairly some time. You realize. You realize, leaning a bit Democrat. You realize. [winces theatrically]

Schmitt: So then how do you go from that to this? [points at CPAC audience]

Musk: [sigh] Effectively, uh, it —

Schmitt: Did they go loopy?

Musk: [laughs] Yeah, they did — they did go loopy. I imply that complete cancel tradition and, you understand, attempting to, attempting to cease freedom of speech, and um, infringe upon, simply on the whole, infringe upon individuals’s private freedoms. You realize, they simply need state management, state management of what you say… They wanna, they wanna, you understand, take away your weapons, and the rationale they wanna take away your weapons, is like, so there’s nothing you are able to do to oppose them. So it’s type of like, you understand, I simply, I simply, I similar to. We, we, we, we simply want to revive the elemental parts of what made America nice, which is, uh, freedom and alternative.

Schmitt: We’re seeing numerous these freedoms disappearing within the West. It’s not nearly America. We’re watching, we’re all watching Europe and understanding that they’re about 50, 100 years forward of us, proper? As a result of they received an early begin, and we’re watching how they’re devolving, and also you’re attempting to put it aside from occurring right here.

Musk: I imply, in Europe, they put individuals in jail for memes. Yeah. You realize, I’m like, that’s insane.

Schmitt: They’re collapsing. They’re a collapsing society. It feels that approach.

Musk: It… feels… like…

Schmitt: France was nicer 50 years in the past than this.

Schmitt: I don’t assume you may query it.

Musk: Yeah. Um. so. Yeah. So. Yeah. I imply. Actually.

He seems to be attempting to begin a sentence. Ultimately he breaks down laughing. Somebody within the crowd cheers, he turns to them.

Musk: Yeah, I really like you too! I imply. I actually, I actually, I actually simply wish to do helpful issues, like, you understand, principally construct merchandise, you understand, present services and products which are which are good and I wasn’t actually that concerned with being political. It, simply, like, there was a sure level, no alternative. Yeah. So, yeah.

Schmitt: Can I ask you — on the identical facet of that coin — what’s it like going from impartial to being vilified, largely vilified by the media? I feel you’re —

Musk: What? No. Actually? HANHHANHHHAHA!

Schmitt: I imply, activate a few of these channels, brother. I imply, they’re indignant at you. Does it trouble you in any respect?

Musk: I imply, had been they chanting for my demise? I suppose that’s a bit, you understand… like, the tune’s not even that gooooood. And it’s like, it’s like, you name {that a} demise chant? [wriggles torso while seated] That’s noooothing, pleeease.

Schmitt: They’ve been singing loads recently. There’s numerous music recently. It’s not good music both. Yeah, yeah. I might say that they’re, you understand, watching what you’re doing with DOGE is simply that — individuals love it.

Schmitt: I imply, I’ve at all times regarded on the authorities and… I’ve at all times regarded on the authorities. I’ve seen this large machine that, and also you simply know that they waste as a result of they don’t care. No one may. There’s extra money coming. They don’t care. You’re slicing all this out. Everyone on this nation is aware of that the federal government is filled with waste, fraud, and abuse, and also you’re doing the work, and the Individuals like it. Watching their response politically to this, I can’t consider how dangerous they’re responding to this. I don’t understand how you’re going to take a seat there and scream and complain as a result of they’re slicing waste out of the federal government and attempt to win one other election. How do you attempt to win on that?

Musk: Effectively, at this level, I’m like, I’m unsure how a lot of the left is even actual.

Schmitt: Like, how a lot was propped up by our cash?

Musk: Yeah, you see, like, these, these type of pretend rallies with hardly any individuals and the media will, like, body it, [making a rectangle with his fingers] and like, you understand, get all six individuals you understand, within the body, but it surely’s like, no person else is there, like, simply, it doesn’t have in style help, um. However there’s, however then, however then you definitely study that, like, there’s tons of of billions of {dollars} going to those so-called NGOs, and that, and it’s your tax {dollars} which are funding issues which are basically anti-American.

Schmitt: They usually’re propping up their narrative. Quite a lot of that authorities cash has been propping up a left that I don’t assume is, I don’t assume is as sturdy as they made it appear.

Musk: In actual fact, a large quantity of your tax {dollars} goes to legacy media firms, immediately from the from, from the federal government.

Schmitt: The federal government needs to take over media.

Musk: Yeah, it’s horrible.

Schmitt: Yeah, that’s why now we have X.

Musk: Yeah! And that’s —

Schmitt: That’s why you spent $44 billion — I imply, there’s some huge cash. Greater than it was most likely value, but it surely had, there was a message.

Musk: Freedom is priceless. [nods sagely as crowd goes wild]

Schmitt: Most likely one of the essential investments this nation’s ever seen. In case you gotta defend the First Modification, it’s not way more essential than that.

Musk: Yeah. I imply, I received numerous criticism, and other people, individuals, stated, properly, that proves he’s an enormous fool from a, you understand, like, look, he purchased it for like no matter, $44 billion and now it’s value, like, eight cents.

Schmitt: And it’s not value eight cents!

Musk: You realize, there’s that, however, however yeah, it was primarily to, you understand, purchase…. freedom… of expression. And —

Schmitt: As soon as’s that’s gone it’s throughout, throughout, yeah, tyranny is actually fast after that.

Musk: Yeah. I imply, like, you understand. All of the type of federal cash going to media firms is what, what helps clarify why the legacy media all says the identical factor on the identical time. Yeah, like, isn’t it, like, it’s like, bizarre, like, you place them up with, like, you understand, like, when…

Schmitt: [jumping in] They’re mouthpieces for…

Musk: For the state! Sure.

The billionaire, who owns a social media platform, and is supposedly additionally a federal official, nods.

Schmitt: That’s what we’ve come to know. Yeah, scary.

Musk: Yeah. I just like the theme with it, the place, the place, the place, as a result of they’re at all times saying, like, menace to our democracy, menace to our democracy, however in the event you simply changed democracy with forms…. It makes numerous sense.

Schmitt: Makes excellent sense.

Musk: [smirking] Huge menace to the forms.

Schmitt: That’s precisely proper. Let’s speak about, let’s speak about these DOGE dividend checks that everyone’s speaking about this week. And I do know you tweeted out that you simply’re gonna as a result of [turns to audience] Does all people need, like, a $5,000 test within the mail? That sounds form of good, proper?

Schmitt: And the perfect half about it could be understanding the place it got here from, that that’s 5 grand that you simply despatched them final 12 months.

Musk: Completely, it’s cash that’s taken away from, from issues which are harmful to the nation, that and from organizations that hate you, to you. That’s superior.

Schmitt: Does it look like —

Musk: I imply that’s like, wonderful. [laughs] The spoils of battle, you understand?

Schmitt: Is there traction on that?

Musk: Yeah, yeah. So yeah. [inaudible] …the president. He’s supportive of that. And so it seems like, you understand, that’s one thing we’re going to do. In order we’re discovering financial savings, that’s going to translate on to reductions in tax. Yeah.

Schmitt: I imply, I feel they fired 6,000 individuals on the IRS right now, and I feel, they stated final evening that they’re speaking about shutting down the IRS.

Schmitt: I feel it’s honest. I feel individuals ought to understand that is, I imply, the sum of money that we stated we ship Washington, like 5 or 6 trillion a 12 months, that’s such an ungodly sum of money. I imply, like, a trillion seconds, is like 30 years or one thing like that. I imply, that’s how a lot we ship them. They usually appear to by no means have sufficient. There have to be loads you may minimize.

Musk: No, completely. Individuals ask me, What’s probably the most shocking factor that you simply’ve encountered once you go to DC? You realize, we’re in DC. And I stated, properly, probably the most shocking factor is the size of the expenditures, and truly, uh, how simple it’s to with a simply, simply once you add caring and competence, the place there was absent earlier than you may really save billions of {dollars} typically in, in an hour. Yeah, like, it’s wild.

Schmitt: After which they scoff at it and say, oh, a number of billion right here there. I imply, the best way they’re speaking about it, they, you may see they don’t care. It’s so it’s such little cash in comparison with how a lot they’re used to losing. That’s what’s actually scary.

Musk: Um, yeah, no, precisely. However clearly it’s, it’s, it simply reveals that they actually lack empathy for the typical taxpayer who’s working onerous, paying, paying taxes, after which, after which they are saying, oh, one million {dollars} doesn’t matter. I’m like, I feel it issues loads to individuals you understand. So what are you speaking about?

Schmitt: I’d wish to have it. Let me ask you a query. You realize, I do know the President pretty properly. Watched him survive two assassination makes an attempt. The second, had the primary one not occurred, the second would have gotten him, as a result of with out these further guys, they’d have by no means seen that gun poking by the fence on the golf course.

Musk: Isn’t it thoughts blowing that this has occurred? I imply, and simply and what? By the best way, why can we nonetheless know nothing about that man in Butler, what’s occurring? However uh Kash is gonna unravel it! Yeah! Woo! [pumps arms, but only about halfway up]

Schmitt: Only a couple hours in the past, I noticed that the safety element that you simply had are available with is gigantic.

Musk: It’s not that monumental, possibly it must be greater.

Schmitt: It would. I feel you can most likely afford it. However, I imply, how involved are you about your security? I imply, it’s you. Are you? You’re a wished man. Are you? Are you?

Musk: So I look, I’m open to concepts for enhancing safety. I’ve to let you know. Like I don’t really have a demise want. I assume. However, you understand, it’s not that simple. So, yeah, I imply, however I’ve like that, even like individuals like President Bukele from El Salvador, who managed to place in jail like a 100,000, like, murderous thugs. And he was like, he referred to as me. He’s like, I’m frightened about your safety. I’m like, YOU’RE frightened about my safety? Okay, you understand. I imply, yeah.

Schmitt: Discuss guts to do this down there.

Musk: I imply, yeah, completely.

Schmitt: After which survive.

Musk: Like, I’m like, I used to be like, how did you place all these thugs in jail with out dying, as a result of issues like that may have been not simple. You realize.

Schmitt: Effectively, there’s the President, as one in all his high attorneys is now investigating, I suppose Chuck Schumer, for threats in opposition to SCOTUS. Congress, on the Democrats’ facet, for saying, you understand, principally saying he’s gonna deliver a struggle to you, like a struggle to you. I imply, the rhetoric… you guys are screwing with issues that aren’t speculated to be messed with.

Musk: We’re preventing [inaudible]

Schmitt: — lots of people that basically don’t need that to occur.

Musk: We’re preventing Matrix large time right here. It’s got to be achieved.

Schmitt: Yeah, and it definitely does. [brushing over the Matrix reference] What’s occurring with — inform us about Fort Knox. Kentucky. It’s a army base. It’s a ton of gold, tons and tons and tons.

Musk: 5,000 tons of gold, one thing.

Schmitt: 5,000 are there within the floor and like this. I imply, it’s a really safe factor.

Musk: I feel all of us wish to see it.

Schmitt: I’d like to see it like this.

Musk: That is your gold, by the best way. It’s the general public’s gold.

Schmitt: Do you assume it’s not there?

Musk: I don’t know, however I feel I simply wish to see it. Yeah, we wish to go see it and simply be certain. Like, be certain, like, did someone spray paint some lead or one thing, you understand, yeah, like, is that this actual gold? You might need to chew the bar. You realize. However I feel, truthfully, you understand, a part of this additionally is rather like, let’s, you understand, let’s have some enjoyable. And, you understand, like, like, I stated, this, all this gold at Fort Knox. It’s the general public’s gold. It’s your gold. So, like, I feel you might have, like, a proper to see it.

Schmitt: And take a tour.

Musk: Yeah, I feel we must always have a — do a — do a tour. And the President final evening was like, that’s, I feel he’s in favor of it. That will be cool. After which we, like, it must be like a reside tour, like, you’ll see what’s occurring, open the door, [gestures dramatically] like, what’s behind it, properly, and there’s, you understand, I feel I’d watch that. Yeah.

Schmitt: I imply, what’s, what’s 5,000 tons of is it? Is it the dimensions of this —

Musk: Gotta be fairly large, you understand. It’s gotta be numerous different stuff in there, like, round, like, I don’t even… received another stuff in there.

Schmitt: Are you fascinated by auditing the Federal Reserve as properly, which is clearly —

Musk: [laughs, shrugs] Yeah, certain.

Schmitt: — regulatory economic system. I think about you assume the waste has received to be all over the place.

Musk: Yeah, no, waste. Waste is just about all over the place. Individuals ask, like, how will you discover waste? And, like, in DC, I’m like, look, it’s like being in a room, and this goal, the wall, the roofs and the ground are all targets. So it’s like, you’re gonna shut your eyes and go shoot in any path [laughs] you may’t miss, you understand. So it’s, it’s fairly wild, like, like, you simply push on issues a bit bit, and also you save billions of {dollars}, like, just a bit bit, you understand, it’s wild.

Schmitt: Scary, isn’t it?

Musk: It’s why I say like, it truly is underrated, in the event you add caring and competence, how a lot issues enhance. Yeah, and, you understand, and we simply discover so many completely loopy issues, which, you understand, clearly we’re sharing with the general public. We put up every part we study, you understand, simply you understand, so you may see it, you understand.

Musk: It’s like, isn’t it? Like, it’s completely wild. Like, we did simply, we simply did, like, a test on the database on Social Safety. Like, says, what number of, loads Individuals, alive Individuals eligible for Social Safety, are there? And based on the database, it’s over 400 million. And we’re like, wait a second, and what number of are you once more? Yeah. After which, like, we discovered, like, one particular person in there’s, like, 306 years previous. I’m like, [inaudible from crosstalk] I imply, yeah, you understand this, America doesn’t exist earlier than at the moment. Like, so, why? So, you understand, possibly it’s simply me, however I feel it’s a purple flag. I don’t know.

Schmitt: However are there indications that there have been checks going to these individuals, or any of these individuals?

Musk opens his mouth and pauses.

Schmitt: I suppose that’s the query.

Schmitt: I get the Social Safety Administration is dumb, however are they paying these individuals? Are they that dumb? I don’t know.

Musk: A bunch of cash goes out from the Social Safety Administration, and, the truth is, from all entitlement applications.

Schmitt: $72 billion in waste in like seven years. It’s $10 billion a 12 months.

Musk: Effectively, I feel the tough estimate from Basic — Authorities Accountability places of work, there’s over $500 billion in 40 years.

Schmitt: [leans in] Sorry, 5?

Musk: [enunciating] 5 hundred bill-i-on.

Musk: Per 12 months, per 12 months.

Schmitt: On Social Safety?

Musk: No, no, on all, on all —

Schmitt: On all authorities?

Musk: On all entitlements, all entitlements. Yeah, it type of really is sensible. Whenever you take a look at the factor from a high degree and say, like, okay, there’s $7 trillion of spending by the federal government. What proportion do you assume is fraudulent? Okay, precisely like a conservative estimate of the $7 trillion can be 10 %. Conservative.

Schmitt: Most likely larger than that, yeah, precisely like 1 / 4 each greenback, proper?

Musk: But when the fraud is simply 10 % of $7 trillion, you’ve received $700 billion of fraud, and by the best way, so it’s like, very easy to reap the benefits of the federal authorities. Very simple.

The billionaire federal contractor nods knowingly.

Schmitt: Have a look at COVID! Have a look at all these scams! I imply, it’s unbelievable!

Musk: It seems to be like, for, when it comes to covid funds, yeah, there was one thing like $200 billion of covid fee fraud taken by fraudsters in a foreign country. That’s like, I feel, pay attention, if there’s going to be fraud, it ought to a minimum of be home so, you understand. However they managed to get $200 billion in a foreign country. I’m like, what! Why didn’t we discover that?

Schmitt: Let me ask you, let’s do immigration right here for a second. You realize, there’s this transfer now that Trump’s newest factor is that he minimize, he’s going to chop funding any form of cash that results in the arms of unlawful immigrants. So in the event you’re funding these sanctuary cities and states, that’s how they thrive, proper? They’re paying for these accommodations. That’s all federal cash. In case you received a resort in your metropolis in New York, you bought all these accommodations filled with migrants. That’s not state cash. That’s the feds are overlaying that, he’s going to chop all that. It’s actually onerous to deport 15 million individuals. And it looks like the transfer now could be, let’s make it in order that they depart on their very own. If there’s now not a dole system for them, if they will’t get their arms on resort rooms and cash, they’re going to return, particularly if there’s no work.

Musk: Effectively, I feel it’s actually essential for individuals to know that the Biden administration despatched any potential cash that they might, they might, if there was cash they might ship to facilitate and amplify unlawful immigration, they despatched it. Okay. They took cash from FEMA meant for serving to Individuals in misery, and despatched that cash to luxurious accommodations for unlawful immigrants in New York. That’s an outrage.

Musk: They really did that, and never solely that, even after the President signed an govt order saying it has to cease, the FEMA, the no matter deep state bureaucrats nonetheless pressed ship on $80 million final week to go to the Roosevelt Lodge in New York and different locations final week. And now, and now, they’re mad that they’ve received stopped, they usually’re like attempting to sue to have or not it’s restored. It’s like, the gumption.

Schmitt: You assume they’re creating a brand new voter class? You assume that was the aim? After they opened up the borders for 4 years, create a brand new voter class, get them citizenship, get them in.

Musk: Yeah, numerous this stuff like, you don’t really should assume some grand conspiracy. You simply want to take a look at fundamental incentives. So if the incentives, basically, if the likelihood that an unlawful goes to vote Democrat sooner or later, whether or not it’s dishonest, however ultimately they will turn into residents. But when likelihood is like 80, 90 % simply take a look at California, which is tremendous majority Dem. After which the inducement is to maximise the variety of illegals within the nation. That’s the reason the Biden administration was pushing to get as many illegals as potential and spend each greenback potential to get as many. As a result of each one in all them is a buyer. Everyone seems to be a voter. So the entire thing was a large voter importation rip-off.

Musk: Very apparent. After which, furthermore, then, they really created the CBP One border app factor the place they had been, which is, like, the place they might, they’d actually fly individuals in. It’s not like, like, on the level at which you understand, individuals being flown in at your expense —

Schmitt: — sending planes —

Musk: Like constructing a wall up doesn’t work.

Schmitt: They’re actually flying them in. No different nation on this planet would do one thing like this. No one is that this silly.

Musk: Yeah. After which we discovered that there was, like $100 million contract given to some man in London, really, whereas, you understand, yeah, properly, the CBP One app. So, so then, so that they’re flying illegals into the swing states. And in the event you’ve received like, a margin of victory of possibly 20,000 individuals, and also you fly 200,000 illegals into that state, it’s not gonna be a swing state for lengthy.

Schmitt: Change the numbers. Possibly in 4, eight years.

Schmitt: It’s a protracted sport. It’s only a matter of time.

Musk: So it’d take, like, a 12 months for an asylum seeker to get on the inexperienced card and 5 years for the citizenship, it’s an funding that’s assured to repay. It’s only a query of when.

Schmitt: All of them bear in mind who introduced them in and who left them right here.

Musk: Precisely, precisely. I wish to return. I wish to speak about my large deal like, I feel lots of people like, don’t fairly admire that this was an precise, actual rip-off at scale to tilt the scales of democracy in America.

Schmitt: Yet one more Biden query. I bear in mind when, you understand, once they would do the electrical automobile stuff, they’d at all times attempt to field you out, though you might have the one electrical automobile anyone needs.

Schmitt: You stated, I feel this week that you simply assume that Biden left these astronauts up in area as a result of he didn’t wish to give you a chance to avoid wasting them. Make NASA look dangerous, make the personal sector look higher, make you look good. You consider that?

Musk: Yeah, no, completely. So, after all.

Schmitt: I form of agree. Why would he wish to allow you to assist them come down once you’re supporting the president?

Musk: The Biden administration was, was attacking me subsequent degree. I imply, the Division of Justice — or Injustice, beneath the Biden administration — was, I imply, they had been suing SpaceX. They’re suing SpaceX for not hiring asylum seekers. And we’re like, but it surely’s really unlawful for us to rent asylum seekers as a result of we’re… rocket expertise is roofed beneath ITAR guidelines, which which means it’s a complicated weapons expertise, yeah. And so we will solely rent everlasting residents or inexperienced card or residents, proper? Like, so we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t. We stated like, so how can they sue us for not hiring asylum seekers when it’s really unlawful for us to take action. However nonetheless, there was an enormous Division of Justice or Injustice case about this in opposition to SpaceX, so clearly it was an antagonistic scenario, and people astronauts had been speculated to be up there for eight days, and now they’re up for eight months. Does that make any sense? And we, we, we, clearly may have introduced them again sooner, however they didn’t need anybody who may help President Trump to look good. Mainly.

Musk: That’s the, that’s the that’s the problem.

Schmitt: Quite a lot of them are saying proper now that the rationale that you simply wish to get into Social Safety, that you simply wish to get into all of those completely different — into Treasury and issues like that, is that you simply’re searching for private info and also you’re attempting to earn more money.

Schmitt: I’ve by no means met anyone as wealthy as you that cared much less about cash in my life. Each time I hear a narrative about you, you’re sleeping on a sofa of another man in a metropolis that you can purchase the complete factor. I don’t assume you care about cash, dude.

Musk: I imply, I, I, I. [laughs] Pay attention, like if I steal Social Safety, I can lastly purchase good issues. Yeah?

Schmitt: And on that very same query, they’re additionally speaking about, you guys are going to finish Social Safety, you’re going to finish Medicare, you’re going to finish this stuff. I don’t think about that dialog has been had with the President, and that’s that’s the plan.

Musk: No, the truth is, the actions that we’re taking with the help of the President and the help of the companies, is, what is going to save Medicare? What’s going to save Social Safety?

Musk: And and, as a result of if the nation goes bancrupt, if all, if all the cash is simply spent on paying curiosity on debt, there’s no cash left for something. Yeah, in order that’s, that’s the rationale I’m doing this, is as a result of I regarded on the large image right here, and it’s like, man, our debt’s getting uncontrolled. The curiosity funds, curiosity on the nationwide debt now exceeds the complete protection division price range.

Schmitt: A trillion a 12 months. In curiosity, simply to hold the cash that we owe, is a trillion a 12 months.

Musk: Rising quickly. So like, I imply, a rustic’s no completely different from an individual. Nation overspends, nation goes bankrupt. Identical with, identical as an individual who overspends goes bankrupt. So it’s not like non-compulsory to unravel this stuff. It’s important.

Schmitt: So we’re gonna go bankrupt.

Schmitt: Couple minutes left right here. Russia, there’s an enormous push —

Musk: Oh, yeah, yeah. Individuals like, type of like, the top, like, yeah, you understand, I’m a, I’m a purchased asset of Putin, yeah, I’m like, he can’t afford me.

Schmitt: Yeah, I feel, I feel you’re value greater than Russia.

Musk: [mugging at crowd] Give it some thought! [giggles]

Schmitt: So that you’re attempting to finish, you’re attempting to finish a struggle. Ending a struggle at all times means it’s a must to compromise. You must negotiate with an enemy or an adversary. That’s simply what it’s. And proper now, they’re lambasting the president for attempting a unique methodology to struggle that they haven’t been in a position to finish for 3 and a half years. Three years. Yeah, they, you understand, they’re saying Trump’s blaming Zelensky for the invasion. How do you, how do you course of all the negativity towards him for attempting to finish this struggle?

Musk: Effectively, to start with, I feel we must always have empathy for the individuals dying on the entrance strains. That’s a very powerful factor. If individuals have been dying, you understand, like, what number of extra years is that this speculated to go on? And picture if that was your son, your father, you understand, what are they dying for? What precisely are they dying for? That line has, the road of engagement has barely moved for 2 years. There’s a complete bunch of individuals useless in trenches for what. And I’ll let you know what for, what it’s like for the largest graft machine that I’ve ever seen in my life, that’s for what. It’s unreal, just like the sum of money that’s being taken in graft and bribery is disgusting. And so what’s really occurring is that these, these you understand, individuals, these poor guys, are getting despatched right into a meat grinder for cash. That’s what’s really occurring. And must cease.

Schmitt: Trump is so pragmatic on this. He simply, he’s simply taking a look at it, and he’s saying it’s Ukraine, it’s not our nation, it’s not a NATO ally. I simply wish to see individuals not dying. I wish to see, on either side, I imply, take into consideration what number of younger — so many younger males have died in Ukraine that the military is beginning to age out. The army is getting old out. You get 40 and 50 12 months previous guys preventing in a struggle as a result of there’s no person left that’s not killed or maimed of their 20s. That’s the truth. Take into consideration how many individuals that’s, in the event you’re a humanitarian in any respect, you simply received to finish the struggle, like, it doesn’t matter what, simply get it over with.

Musk: Sure, individuals, they should cease dying and the graft machines received to cease, you understand, so, and I feel those who don’t, lots of people on the market don’t understand, like, the president has numerous empathy. He actually cares. You realize, he’s good, he’s a superb man.

Schmitt: I received another for you. I’ve been fascinated by you for a really very long time.

Schmitt: I’ve simply, I simply, I’ve by no means seen anyone that may, you understand, accomplish that many issues on the identical time. I imply, you’ve received the rockets, you bought the automobiles. I’ve at all times wished to ask you, what’s it like inside your thoughts, like, this, is it simply 1,000 miles an hour? I imply, are you —

Schmitt: Is it simply not? I imply, simply, does it ever cease? Do you sleep? How a lot do you sleep? Paint us an image of inside the thoughts of a genius? Like, how do you… are you able to reply that query? It’s not a straightforward query.

He pauses. He’s nonetheless carrying the sun shades, having by no means taken them off this whole time.

Musk: My thoughts is a storm. So. It’s a storm.

Musk: However, however, I imply, let me possibly let you know one thing like, you didn’t ask the query, however, however I feel it’s value nonetheless, possibly simply elaborating on one thing, which is, you understand, I grew up in South Africa and… however my morality was knowledgeable by America. I learn comedian books, you understand, performed Dungeons & Dragons.

Very small part of crowd cheers.

Musk: And I watched American TV reveals and, like, it appeared like America cared about being the nice guys, you understand, about doing the correct factor and, and that’s really fairly uncommon, by the best way. [laughs]

Schmitt: On the earth, it’s very uncommon. Yeah, it’s not like, really, nations don’t try this.

Musk: No, they don’t, no. And so I used to be like, Yeah, you understand, you wish to be this good. You wish to be on the facet of excellent. You wish to care about what’s proper. And, and uh, yeah. In order that’s, that’s, yeah, what I consider in.

Viewers member screams that they love him.

Schmitt: I gave you, I gave you a troublesome one on the finish.

Schmitt: So yeah, that’s nice. That’s nice. [to crowd] Elon Musk.

Crowd goes wild. The digicam zooms out, exhibiting a standing ovation.

Schmitt: Thanks. Thanks a lot. Admire you.

Elon Musk recommences wandering forwards and backwards throughout the stage, waving the chainsaw. He pauses; an odd rectangular form is bobbing by the group. It floats up in direction of Musk, he grabs it. It seems to be a really giant fan artwork portray of Musk himself. He grabs the portray with one hand and the chainsaw with the opposite.