I can’t describe how unusual Elon Musk’s CPAC look was

Elon Musk spoke on the Conservative Political Motion Convention (CPAC) on Thursday, giving an odd and sometimes inarticulate on-stage interview to Newsmax presenter Rob Schmitt. Schmitt was all smiles and enthusiasm, and managed to steer Musk by way of the half hour, by no means pausing to look again on the apparent logical inconsistencies, numerous falsehoods, and mathematical errors that littered the interview. He even did an honest job of preserving the whole timeslot from devolving into web memes, though he couldn’t cease Musk from loudly announcing “I’m turn out to be 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 could be a huge crowd. And they aren’t right here for me.

Schmitt: The way you guys doing? Good vibe this month, proper? After one of the best 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 convey out Elon Musk.

Crowd goes wild. Elon Musk enters stage, pumping each fists excessive within the air, strolling barely unsteadily. He’s sporting a black MAGA baseball cap and sun shades that seem like they have been purchased in a gasoline station in 1989. He continues to pump his fists as he makes his method 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 bought 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 sporting his sun shades. He turns round and begins wandering to the opposite aspect 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 find it irresistible. We find it irresistible.

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 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 out to be 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 taking place.

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 informed you you’d be at CPAC and dealing with the president to utterly shred [dramatic pause] the federal government — the swamp — no matter you need to name it. Would you imagine that?

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

Musk: You guys are. You understand. We’re, you already know, we’re attempting to get good issues executed, but in addition, like, you already know, have an excellent time doing it and, uh, you already know, and have, like, a humorousness.

Musk: You understand. So, like, I imply, the kind of the left needed to make comedy unlawful, you already know, you may’t make enjoyable of something. So that is, like, comedy suuuuuucks. It’s like, nothing’s humorous. You may’t make enjoyable of something.

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

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

Schmitt: And we’ve shifted the whole tradition in simply the previous few 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 as if we should always… We should always have an excellent time. You understand?

Schmitt: I imply, it’s a good time. All people on this place is so excited, and I haven’t, I imply, if you speak to conservatives, all people’s glad.

Musk: [nodding emphatically] Yeah.

Schmitt: And all people feels this nice sense of reduction, as a result of we have 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 have been kind of heading for some extent of no return actually, you already know, 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, because of you [gestures generally at CPAC audience] that, that has been completed. Yeah.

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

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

Schmitt: That’s an excellent one. Was there a selected 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 assume, uh… yeah, I imply, I’d say, I used to be like, politically impartial for, for fairly some time. You understand. You understand, leaning slightly Democrat. You understand. [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 already know, attempting to, attempting to cease freedom of speech, and um, infringe upon, simply normally, infringe upon folks’s private freedoms. You understand, they only need state management, state management of what you say… They wanna, they wanna, you already know, take away your weapons, and the explanation they wanna take away your weapons, is like, so there’s nothing you are able to do to oppose them. So it’s kind of like, you already know, I simply, I simply, I similar to. We, we, we, we simply want to revive the basic parts of what made America nice, which is, uh, freedom and alternative.

Schmitt: We’re seeing loads of these freedoms disappearing within the West. It’s not nearly America. We’re watching, we’re all watching Europe and figuring out that they’re about 50, 100 years forward of us, proper? As a result of they bought an early begin, and we’re watching how they’re devolving, and also you’re attempting to reserve it from taking place right here.

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

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

Musk: It… feels… like…

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

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

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

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

Musk: Yeah, I like you too! I imply. I actually, I actually, I actually simply need to do helpful issues, like, you already know, principally construct merchandise, you already know, present services and products which can be which can be good and I wasn’t actually that eager about being political. It, simply, like, there was a sure level, no alternative. Yeah. So, yeah.

Schmitt: Can I ask you — on the identical aspect 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 offended at you. Does it trouble you in any respect?

Musk: I imply, have been they chanting for my dying? I suppose that’s slightly, you already know… like, the music’s not even that gooooood. And it’s like, it’s like, you name {that a} dying chant? [wriggles torso while seated] That’s noooothing, pleeease.

Schmitt: They’ve been singing rather a lot recently. There’s loads of music recently. It’s not good music both. Yeah, yeah. I might say that they’re, you already know, watching what you’re doing with DOGE is simply that — folks love it.

Schmitt: I imply, I’ve at all times appeared on the authorities and… I’ve at all times appeared on the authorities. I’ve seen this huge machine that, and also you simply know that they waste as a result of they don’t care. No one may. There’s more cash coming. They don’t care. You’re slicing all this out. All people on this nation is aware of that the federal government is stuffed with waste, fraud, and abuse, and also you’re doing the work, and the People find it irresistible. Watching their response politically to this, I can’t imagine how dangerous they’re responding to this. I don’t understand how you’re going to sit down 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 kind of pretend rallies with hardly any folks and the media will, like, body it, [making a rectangle with his fingers] and like, you already know, get all six folks you already know, within the body, nevertheless it’s like, no one else is there, like, simply, it doesn’t have common assist, um. However there’s, however then, however you then study that, like, there’s a whole lot of billions of {dollars} going to those so-called NGOs, and that, and it’s your tax {dollars} which can be funding issues which can be essentially anti-American.

Schmitt: And so they’re propping up their narrative. A whole lot of that authorities cash has been propping up a left that I don’t suppose is, I don’t suppose is as robust as they made it appear.

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

Schmitt: The federal government desires to take over media.

Musk: Yeah, it’s horrible.

Schmitt: Yeah, that’s why we’ve 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 price, nevertheless it had, there was a message.

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

Schmitt: Most likely one of the crucial necessary investments this nation’s ever seen. Should you gotta shield the First Modification, it’s not rather more necessary than that.

Musk: Yeah. I imply, I bought loads of criticism, and other people, folks, mentioned, effectively, that proves he’s an enormous fool from a, you already know, like, look, he purchased it for like no matter, $44 billion and now it’s price, like, eight cents.

Schmitt: And it’s not price eight cents!

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

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

Musk: Yeah. I imply, like, you already know. All of the kind 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 already know, 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 should you simply changed democracy with forms…. It makes loads of sense.

Schmitt: Makes good sense.

Musk: [smirking] Massive menace to the forms.

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

Schmitt: And one of the best half about it might be figuring out the place it got here from, that that’s 5 grand that you just despatched them final 12 months.

Musk: Completely, it’s cash that’s taken away from, from issues which can be 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 already know?

Schmitt: Is there traction on that?

Musk: Yeah, yeah. So yeah. [inaudible] …the president. He’s supportive of that. And so it appears like, you already know, 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 folks on the IRS as we speak, and I feel, they mentioned final night time that they’re speaking about shutting down the IRS.

Schmitt: I feel it’s honest. I feel folks ought to understand that is, I imply, the sum of money that we mentioned 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. And so they appear to by no means have sufficient. There should be rather a lot you may lower.

Musk: No, completely. Folks ask me, What’s essentially the most shocking factor that you just’ve encountered if you go to DC? You understand, we’re in DC. And I mentioned, effectively, essentially the most shocking factor is the size of the expenditures, and really, uh, how straightforward it’s to with a simply, simply if 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, just a few billion right here there. I imply, the way in which 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 exhibits 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 rather a lot to folks you already know. So what are you speaking about?

Schmitt: I’d prefer to have it. Let me ask you a query. You understand, I do know the President pretty effectively. 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 additional guys, they might have by no means seen that gun poking by way of the fence on the golf course.

Musk: Isn’t it thoughts blowing that this has occurred? I imply, and simply and what? By the way in which, 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 just had are available with is big.

Musk: It’s not that huge, perhaps it needs to be larger.

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

Musk: So I look, I’m open to concepts for enhancing safety. I’ve to inform you. Like I don’t really have a dying want. I suppose. However, you already know, it’s not that straightforward. So, yeah, I imply, however I’ve like that, even like folks 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 nervous about your safety. I’m like, YOU’RE nervous about my safety? Okay, you already know. 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 might have been not straightforward. You understand.

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

Musk: We’re preventing [inaudible]

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

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

Schmitt: Yeah, and it definitely does. [brushing over the Matrix reference] What’s occurring with — inform us about Fort Knox. Kentucky. It’s a navy 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 need to see it.

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

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

Schmitt: Do you suppose it’s not there?

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

Schmitt: And take a tour.

Musk: Yeah, I feel we should always have a — do a — do a tour. And the President final night time was like, that’s, I feel he’s in favor of it. That might be cool. After which we, like, it needs to be like a reside tour, like, you’ll see what’s occurring, open the door, [gestures dramatically] like, what’s behind it, effectively, and there’s, you already know, 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 huge, you already know. It’s gotta be loads of different stuff in there, like, round, like, I don’t even… bought another stuff in there.

Schmitt: Are you interested by auditing the Federal Reserve as effectively, which is clearly —

Musk: [laughs, shrugs] Yeah, positive.

Schmitt: — regulatory financial system. I think about you suppose the waste has bought to be all over the place.

Musk: Yeah, no, waste. Waste is just about all over the place. Folks 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 course [laughs] you may’t miss, you already know. So it’s, it’s fairly wild, like, like, you simply push on issues slightly bit, and also you save billions of {dollars}, like, just a bit bit, you already know, it’s wild.

Schmitt: Scary, isn’t it?

Musk: It’s why I say like, it truly is underrated, should you add caring and competence, how a lot issues enhance. Yeah, and, you already know, and we simply discover so many completely loopy issues, which, you already know, clearly we’re sharing with the general public. We publish all the things we study, you already know, simply you already know, so you may see it, you already know.

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, rather a lot People, alive People eligible for Social Safety, are there? And in keeping with 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 individual in there may be, like, 306 years old. I’m like, [inaudible from crosstalk] I imply, yeah, you already know this, America doesn’t exist earlier than at the moment. Like, so, why? So, you already know, perhaps it’s simply me, however I feel it’s a pink flag. I don’t know.

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

Musk opens his mouth and pauses.

Schmitt: I assume that’s the query.

Schmitt: I get the Social Safety Administration is dumb, however are they paying these folks? 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 packages.

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 workplaces, 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 kind of really is smart. Once you have a look at the factor from a high stage and say, like, okay, there’s $7 trillion of spending by the federal government. What proportion do you suppose is fraudulent? Okay, precisely like a conservative estimate of the $7 trillion could be 10 p.c. Conservative.

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

Musk: But when the fraud is barely 10 p.c of $7 trillion, you’ve bought $700 billion of fraud, and by the way in which, so it’s like, very easy to reap the benefits of the federal authorities. Very straightforward.

The billionaire federal contractor nods knowingly.

Schmitt: Take a look at COVID! Take 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, hear, if there’s going to be fraud, it ought to no less than be home so, you already know. 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 understand, there’s this transfer now that Trump’s newest factor is that he lower, he’s going to chop funding any type of cash that leads to the arms of unlawful immigrants. So should you’re funding these sanctuary cities and states, that’s how they thrive, proper? They’re paying for these resorts. That’s all federal cash. Should you bought a resort in your metropolis in New York, you bought all these resorts filled with migrants. That’s not state cash. That’s the feds are masking that, he’s going to chop all that. It’s actually onerous to deport 15 million folks. And it looks as if the transfer now’s, let’s make it in order that they depart on their very own. If there’s not a dole system for them, if they’ll’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 necessary for folks 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 People in misery, and despatched that cash to luxurious resorts 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 government 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 bought stopped, they usually’re like attempting to sue to have it’s restored. It’s like, the gumption.

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

Musk: Yeah, loads of this stuff like, you don’t really must assume some grand conspiracy. You simply want to have a look at fundamental incentives. So if the incentives, essentially, if the likelihood that an unlawful goes to vote Democrat sooner or later, whether or not it’s dishonest, however ultimately they’ll turn out to be residents. But when likelihood is like 80, 90 p.c simply have a look at California, which is tremendous majority Dem. After which the motivation 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 an enormous voter importation rip-off.

Musk: Very apparent. After which, furthermore, then, they really created the CBP One border app factor the place they have been, which is, like, the place they might, they might actually fly folks in. It’s not like, like, on the level at which you already know, folks 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 the 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 already know, yeah, effectively, the CBP One app. So, so then, in order that they’re flying illegals into the swing states. And should you’ve bought like, a margin of victory of perhaps 20,000 folks, 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 an extended recreation. It’s only a matter of time.

Musk: So it would 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 keep in mind who introduced them in and who left them right here.

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

Schmitt: Yet another Biden query. I keep in mind when, you already know, after they would do the electrical automotive stuff, they might at all times attempt to field you out, despite the fact that you could have the one electrical automotive anyone desires.

Schmitt: You mentioned, I feel this week that you just suppose that Biden left these astronauts up in area as a result of he didn’t need to give you a chance to save lots of them. Make NASA look dangerous, make the non-public sector look higher, make you look good. You imagine that?

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

Schmitt: I type of agree. Why would he need to allow you to assist them come down if you’re supporting the president?

Musk: The Biden administration was, was attacking me subsequent stage. I imply, the Division of Justice — or Injustice, beneath the Biden administration — was, I imply, they have been suing SpaceX. They’re suing SpaceX for not hiring asylum seekers. And we’re like, nevertheless it’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 mentioned 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 a giant Division of Justice or Injustice case about this in opposition to SpaceX, so clearly it was an antagonistic state of affairs, and people astronauts have been presupposed 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 assist President Trump to look good. Mainly.

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

Schmitt: A whole lot of them are saying proper now that the explanation that you just need to get into Social Safety, that you just need to get into all of those completely different — into Treasury and issues like that, is that you just’re on the lookout 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 would purchase the whole factor. I don’t suppose you care about cash, dude.

Musk: I imply, I, I, I. [laughs] Hear, 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 assist of the President and the assist of the businesses, is, what’s 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 explanation I’m doing this, is as a result of I appeared on the huge image right here, and it’s like, man, our debt’s getting uncontrolled. The curiosity funds, curiosity on the nationwide debt now exceeds the whole protection division finances.

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 elective to resolve 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. Folks like, kind of like, the top, like, yeah, you already know, 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 price 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 warfare. Ending a warfare at all times means you need to compromise. It’s important to negotiate with an enemy or an adversary. That’s simply what it’s. And proper now, they’re lambasting the president for attempting a distinct technique to warfare that they haven’t been capable of finish for 3 and a half years. Three years. Yeah, they, you already know, they’re saying Trump’s blaming Zelensky for the invasion. How do you, how do you course of the entire negativity towards him for attempting to finish this warfare?

Musk: Effectively, initially, I feel we should always have empathy for the folks dying on the entrance traces. That’s crucial factor. If folks have been dying, you already know, like, what number of extra years is that this presupposed to go on? And picture if that was your son, your father, you already know, 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 an entire bunch of individuals useless in trenches for what. And I’ll inform you what for, what it’s like for the most important 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 taking place is that these, these you already know, folks, 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 need to see folks not dying. I need to see, on each 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 navy is growing older out. You get 40 and 50 12 months previous guys preventing in a warfare as a result of there’s no one left that’s not killed or maimed of their 20s. That’s the fact. Take into consideration how many individuals that’s, should you’re a humanitarian in any respect, you simply bought to finish the warfare, like, it doesn’t matter what, simply get it over with.

Musk: Sure, folks, they should cease dying and the graft machines bought to cease, you already know, so, and I feel those who don’t, lots of people on the market don’t understand, like, the president has loads of empathy. He actually cares. You understand, he’s good, he’s an excellent man.

Schmitt: I bought 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 already know, achieve this many issues on the identical time. I imply, you’ve bought the rockets, you bought the automobiles. I’ve at all times needed 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 sporting 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 perhaps inform you one thing like, you didn’t ask the query, however, however I feel it’s price nonetheless, perhaps simply elaborating on one thing, which is, you already know, I grew up in South Africa and… however my morality was knowledgeable by America. I learn comedian books, you already know, performed Dungeons & Dragons.

Very small part of crowd cheers.

Musk: And I watched American TV exhibits and, like, it appeared like America cared about being the nice guys, you already know, about doing the precise factor and, and that’s really fairly uncommon, by the way in which. [laughs]

Schmitt: On this planet, it’s very uncommon. Yeah, it’s not like, really, international locations don’t do this.

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

Viewers member screams that they love him.

Schmitt: I gave you, I gave you a tricky 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. Recognize you.

Elon Musk recommences wandering backwards and forwards throughout the stage, waving the chainsaw. He pauses; an odd rectangular form is bobbing by way of the group. It floats up in the 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.