Elon Musk spoke on the Conservative Political Action Conference (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 the half hour, by no means pausing to look again on the apparent logical inconsistencies, varied falsehoods, and mathematical errors that littered the interview. He even did a good job of holding all the timeslot from devolving into web memes, though he couldn’t cease Musk from loudly announcing “I’m turn out to be meme.” Still, the CPAC crowd ate it up.
The following is a transcript created from CPAC’s personal livestream of the occasion. This is, I emphasize, not a parody.
Flashing lights, massive screens ablaze with animated graphics paying homage to the oughties. The CPAC emblem spins round as generic rap-rock blasts throughout the group.
Announcer: Ladies and gents, it’s time for the DOGE replace. Please welcome Newsmax host, Rob Schmitt.
Schmitt: Man. That is a giant crowd. And they don’t seem to be right here for me.
Schmitt: How you guys doing? Nice vibe this month, proper? After the very best month we’ve ever had. Nice to see you. Thanks for popping out. It’s good to see you. Let’s not kill any extra time, let’s carry out Elon Musk.
Crowd goes wild. Elon Musk enters stage, pumping each fists excessive within the air, strolling barely unsteadily. He is sporting a black MAGA baseball cap and sun shades that appear to be they have been purchased in a gasoline station in 1989. He continues to pump his fists as he makes his means 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 acquired yet one more shock, in case this wasn’t sufficient.
Musk: Well, 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 continues to be sporting 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. Nice to fulfill you. I adore it. We adore it.
Musk’s consideration snaps to Milei. The two males shake palms with the Argentinian president, who then departs.
Musk: Where 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 two 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. Pretty a lot. I used to be residing the meme. It’s simply — I used to be residing the dream, and I used to be residing the meme, and that’s, just about what’s taking place.
Musk: I imply, DOGE began out as a meme. Think about it! [laughs] Now it’s actual!
Schmitt: [smiling affably] So —
Musk: [to audience, sunglasses still on] Isn’t that loopy!
Schmitt: It is, it’s loopy.
“I used to be residing the dream, and I used to be residing the meme, and that’s, just about what’s taking place.”
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 need to name it. Would you imagine that?
Musk: No. [snickers] But it’s cool! This is superior. And I simply wanna say, thanks to your assist, I imply.
Musk: You guys are. You know. We’re, you understand, we’re attempting to get good issues carried out, but in addition, like, you understand, have an excellent time doing it and, uh, you understand, and have, like, a humorousness.
Musk: You know. So, like, I imply, the kind 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 can’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 all the 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 should always… We ought to have an excellent time. You know?
Schmitt: I imply, it’s a good time. Everybody 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 aid, 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 believed, I believed we have been kind of heading for some extent 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 House and Senate, which, due to you [gestures generally at CPAC audience] that, that has been achieved. Yeah.
Schmitt: I need to ask you, one of many greatest 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 have been a businessman, lots of people, they steer clear of 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 an excellent one. Was there a selected second? Was there a second that all of it modified?
Musk: Yeah, after I realized I used to be a idiot.
He laughs, and his chain clanks in opposition to his mic once more.
Musk: But 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 know. You know, leaning somewhat Democrat. You know. [winces theatrically]
Schmitt: So then how do you go from that to this? [points at CPAC audience]
Musk: [sigh] Well, uh, it —
Schmitt: Did they go loopy?
Musk: [laughs] Yeah, they did — they did go loopy. I imply that entire cancel tradition and, you understand, attempting to, attempting to cease freedom of speech, and um, infringe upon, simply normally, infringe upon folks’s private freedoms. You know, 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 kind of like, you understand, 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 a variety 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? Because they acquired an early begin, and we’re watching how they’re devolving, and also you’re attempting to put it aside from taking place right here.
“I imply, in Europe, they put folks in jail for memes. Yeah. You know, I’m like, that’s insane.”
Musk: I imply, in Europe, they put folks in jail for memes. Yeah. You know, I’m like, that’s insane.
Schmitt: They’re collapsing. They’re a collapsing society. It feels that means.
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. Really.
He seems to be attempting to start out a sentence. Eventually he breaks down laughing. Someone 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 understand, principally construct merchandise, you understand, present services and products which might be which might be good and I wasn’t actually that interested by being political. It, simply, like, there was a sure level, no selection. 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 believe you’re —
Musk: What? No. Really? 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 demise? I suppose that’s somewhat, you understand… like, the track’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 rather a lot these days. There’s a variety of music these days. 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 — folks love it.
Schmitt: I imply, I’ve all the time seemed on the authorities and… I’ve all the time seemed 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. Nobody may. There’s extra money coming. They don’t care. You’re chopping all this out. Everybody 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 Americans adore it. Watching their response politically to this, I can’t imagine how dangerous they’re responding to this. I don’t know the way you’re going to take a seat there and scream and complain as a result of they’re chopping waste out of the federal government and attempt to win one other election. How do you attempt to win on that?
Musk: Well, 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 understand, get all six folks you understand, within the body, but it surely’s like, no person else is there, like, simply, it doesn’t have widespread assist, um. But there’s, however then, however then you definitely study that, like, there’s a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} going to those so-called NGOs, and that, and it’s your tax {dollars} which might be funding issues which might be basically anti-American.
Schmitt: And 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 authorities desires to take over media.
Musk: Yeah, it’s horrible.
Schmitt: Yeah, that’s why we have now X.
Musk: Yeah! And that’s —
Schmitt: That’s why you spent $44 billion — I imply, there’s some huge cash. More than it was in all probability price, but it surely had, there was a message.
Musk: Freedom is priceless. [nods sagely as crowd goes wild]
Schmitt: Probably one of the vital necessary investments this nation’s ever seen. If you gotta defend the First Amendment, it’s not rather more necessary than that.
Musk: Yeah. I imply, I acquired a variety of criticism, and other people, folks, 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 price, like, eight cents.
Schmitt: And it’s not price eight cents!
Musk: You know, there’s that, however, however yeah, it was primarily to, you understand, purchase…. freedom… of expression. And —
Schmitt: Once’s that’s gone it’s throughout, throughout, yeah, tyranny is basically fast after that.
Musk: Yeah. I imply, like, you understand. All 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 understand, like, when…
Schmitt: [jumping in] They’re mouthpieces for…
Musk: For the state! Yes.
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 all the time saying, like, risk to our democracy, risk to our democracy, however in the event you simply changed democracy with forms…. It makes a variety of sense.
Schmitt: Makes excellent sense.
Musk: [smirking] Big risk 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 the very best half about it will be figuring out the place it got here from, that that’s 5 grand that you just despatched them final 12 months.
Musk: Totally, it’s cash that’s taken away from, from issues which might be harmful to the nation, that and from organizations that hate you, to you. That’s superior.
Schmitt: Does it seem to be —
Musk: I imply that’s like, superb. [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. So as we’re discovering financial savings, that’s going to translate on to reductions in tax. Yeah.
Schmitt: I imply, I believe they fired 6,000 folks on the IRS right this moment, and I believe, they stated final night time that they’re speaking about shutting down the IRS.
Schmitt: I believe it’s truthful. I believe folks ought to understand that is, I imply, the amount of cash that we stated we ship Washington, like 5 – 6 trillion a 12 months, that’s such an ungodly amount of cash. 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 they appear to by no means have sufficient. There should be rather a lot you may reduce.
Musk: No, completely. People ask me, What’s essentially the most shocking factor that you just’ve encountered once you go to DC? You know, we’re in DC. And I stated, properly, essentially the most shocking factor is the size of the expenditures, and really, 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 truly save billions of {dollars} typically in, in an hour. Yeah, like, it’s wild.
Schmitt: And then they scoff at it and say, oh, a couple of 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. But clearly it’s, it’s, it simply exhibits that they actually lack empathy for the common taxpayer who’s working laborious, paying, paying taxes, after which, after which they are saying, oh, one million {dollars} doesn’t matter. I’m like, I believe it issues rather a lot to folks you understand. So what are you speaking about?
Schmitt: I’d wish to have it. Let me ask you a query. You know, 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 might 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 way in which, why can we nonetheless know nothing about that man in Butler, what’s occurring? But uh Kash is gonna resolve it! Yeah! Woo! [pumps arms, but only about halfway up]
Schmitt: Just a pair hours in the past, I noticed that the safety element that you just had are available in with is big.
Musk: It’s not that huge, possibly it needs to be greater.
Schmitt: It would possibly. I believe you possibly can in all probability afford it. But, I imply, how involved are you about your security? I imply, it’s you. Are you? You are 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 truly have a demise want. I suppose. But, you understand, it’s not that simple. 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 fearful about your safety. I’m like, YOU’RE fearful about my safety? Okay, you understand. I imply, yeah.
Schmitt: Talk about guts to try this down there.
Musk: I imply, yeah, completely.
Schmitt: And then 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 know.
Schmitt: Well, there’s the President, as one among his prime attorneys is now investigating, I assume Chuck Schumer, for threats in opposition to SCOTUS. Congress, on the Democrats’ facet, for saying, you understand, principally saying he’s gonna carry a warfare to you, like a combat to you. I imply, the rhetoric… you guys are screwing with issues that aren’t alleged 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 has acquired to be carried out.
Schmitt: Yeah, and it actually 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 believe all of us need to see it.
Schmitt: I’d like to see it like this.
Musk: This is your gold, by the way in which. It’s the general public’s gold.
Schmitt: Do you suppose it’s not there?
“All this gold at Fort Knox. It’s the general public’s gold. It’s your gold. So, like, I believe you might have, like, a proper to see it.”
Musk: I don’t know, however I believe I simply need to see it. Yeah, we need to go see it and simply be sure. Like, be sure, like, did someone spray paint some lead or one thing, you understand, yeah, like, is that this actual gold? You may need to chunk the bar. You know. But I believe, actually, 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 believe you might have, like, a proper to see it.
Schmitt: And take a tour.
Musk: Yeah, I believe we should always have a — do a — do a tour. And the President final night time was like, that’s, I believe he’s in favor of it. That can be cool. And then we, like, it needs to be like a stay 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 believe I’d watch that. Yeah.
Schmitt: I imply, what’s, what’s 5,000 tons of is it? Is it the scale of this —
Musk: Gotta be fairly huge, you understand. It’s gotta be a variety of different stuff in there, like, round, like, I don’t even… acquired another stuff in there.
Schmitt: Are you fascinated with auditing the Federal Reserve as properly, which is clearly —
Musk: [laughs, shrugs] Yeah, positive.
Schmitt: — regulatory economic system. I think about you suppose the waste has acquired to be in all places.
Musk: Yeah, no, waste. Waste is just about in all places. People 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 somewhat 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 publish every thing 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 Security. Like, says, what number of, rather a lot Americans, alive Americans eligible for Social Security, 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. And then, like, we discovered, like, one individual in there’s, like, 306 years outdated. 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 believe it’s a pink flag. I don’t know.
Schmitt: But 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 Security 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 Security Administration, and, in reality, from all entitlement applications.
Schmitt: $72 billion in waste in like seven years. It’s $10 billion a 12 months.
Musk: Well, I believe the tough estimate from General — Government Accountability places of work, there’s over $500 billion in 40 years.
Schmitt: [leans in] Sorry, 5?
Musk: [enunciating] Five hundred bill-i-on.
Musk: Per 12 months, per 12 months.
Schmitt: On Social Security?
Musk: No, no, on all, on all —
Schmitt: On all authorities?
Musk: On all entitlements, all entitlements. Yeah, it kind of truly is sensible. When you have a look at the factor from a prime stage and say, like, okay, there’s $7 trillion of spending by the federal government. What share do you suppose is fraudulent? Okay, precisely like a conservative estimate of the $7 trillion can be 10 p.c. Conservative.
Schmitt: Probably greater than that, yeah, precisely like 1 / 4 each greenback, proper?
Musk: But if the fraud is barely 10 p.c of $7 trillion, you’ve acquired $700 billion of fraud, and by the way in which, so it’s like, very easy to benefit from the federal authorities. Very simple.
The billionaire federal contractor nods knowingly.
Schmitt: Look at COVID! Look in any respect these scams! I imply, it’s unbelievable!
“Listen, if there’s going to be fraud, it ought to at the least be home”
Musk: It seems like, for, when it comes to covid funds, yeah, there was one thing like $200 billion of covid fee fraud taken by fraudsters in another country. That’s like, I believe, hear, if there’s going to be fraud, it ought to at the least be home so, you understand. But they managed to get $200 billion in another 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 know, there’s this transfer now that Trump’s newest factor is that he reduce, he’s going to chop funding any type of cash that leads to the palms 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 resorts. That’s all federal cash. If 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 protecting that, he’s going to chop all that. It’s actually laborious to deport 15 million folks. And it looks like the transfer now could be, let’s make it in order that they go away on their very own. If there’s not a dole system for them, if they’ll’t get their palms on resort rooms and cash, they’re going to return, particularly if there’s no work.
Musk: Well, I believe it’s actually necessary for folks to know that the Biden administration despatched any doable 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 Americans in misery, and despatched that cash to luxurious resorts for unlawful immigrants in New York. That is an outrage.
Musk: They truly 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 Hotel in New York and different locations final week. And now, and now, they’re mad that they’ve acquired stopped, and so they’re like attempting to sue to have or not it’s restored. It’s like, the gumption.
Schmitt: You suppose they’re creating a brand new voter class? You suppose that was the objective? When they opened up the borders for 4 years, create a brand new voter class, get them citizenship, get them in.
Musk: Yeah, a variety of this stuff like, you don’t truly need to assume some grand conspiracy. You simply want to have a look at fundamental incentives. So if the incentives, basically, if the chance that an unlawful goes to vote Democrat sooner or later, whether or not it’s dishonest, however finally they’ll turn out to be residents. But if chance is like 80, 90 p.c simply have a look at California, which is tremendous majority Dem. And then the motivation is to maximise the variety of illegals within the nation. That is why the Biden administration was pushing to get as many illegals as doable and spend each greenback doable to get as many. Because each one among them is a buyer. Everyone is a voter. So the entire thing was a large voter importation rip-off.
Musk: Very apparent. And then, 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 understand, 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 earth would do one thing like this. Nobody is that this silly.
Musk: Yeah. And then we discovered that there was, like $100 million contract given to some man in London, truly, whereas, you understand, yeah, properly, the CBP One app. So, so then, in order that they’re flying illegals into the swing states. And in the event you’ve acquired like, a margin of victory of possibly 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. Maybe 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: They all bear in mind who introduced them in and who left them right here.
Musk: Exactly, precisely. I need to return. I need to discuss my huge deal like, I believe lots of people like, don’t fairly respect that this was an precise, actual rip-off at scale to tilt the scales of democracy in America.
Schmitt: One extra Biden query. I bear in mind when, you understand, after they would do the electrical automobile stuff, they might all the time attempt to field you out, regardless that you might have the one electrical automobile anyone desires.
Schmitt: You stated, I believe 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, in fact.
Schmitt: I type of agree. Why would he need to allow you to assist them come down once you’re supporting the president?
Musk: The Biden administration was, was attacking me subsequent stage. I imply, the Department of Justice — or Injustice, below the Biden administration — was, I imply, they have been suing SpaceX. They’re suing SpaceX for not hiring asylum seekers. And we’re like, but it surely’s truly unlawful for us to rent asylum seekers as a result of we’re… rocket expertise is roofed below ITAR guidelines, which meaning 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 truly unlawful for us to take action. But nonetheless, there was a giant Department of Justice or Injustice case about this in opposition to SpaceX, so clearly it was an antagonistic scenario, and people astronauts have been alleged 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. Basically.
Musk: That’s the, that’s the that’s the problem.
Schmitt: A whole lot of them are saying proper now that the rationale that you just need to get into Social Security, that you just need to get into all of those completely different — into Treasury and issues like that, is that you just’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. Every time I hear a narrative about you, you’re sleeping on a sofa of another man in a metropolis that you possibly can purchase all the factor. I don’t suppose you care about cash, dude.
Musk: I imply, I, I, I. [laughs] Listen, like if I steal Social Security, 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 Security, 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, in reality, 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 will save Social Security?
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 seemed 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 all the 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.
“So like, I imply, a rustic’s no completely different from an individual. Country overspends, nation goes bankrupt. Same with, identical as an individual who overspends goes bankrupt.”
Musk: Rising quickly. So like, I imply, a rustic’s no completely different from an individual. Country overspends, nation goes bankrupt. Same with, identical as an individual who overspends goes bankrupt. So it’s not like elective 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. People like, kind 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 believe, I believe you’re price greater than Russia.
Musk: [mugging at crowd] Think about it! [giggles]
Schmitt: So you’re attempting to finish, you’re attempting to finish a warfare. Ending a warfare all the time means it’s important to compromise. You have to barter 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 warfare that they haven’t been capable of 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 the entire negativity towards him for attempting to finish this warfare?
Musk: Well, to start with, I believe we should always have empathy for the folks dying on the entrance traces. That’s a very powerful factor. If folks have been dying, you understand, like, what number of extra years is that this alleged to go on? And think about 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 lifeless 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 amount of cash that’s being taken in graft and bribery is disgusting. And so what’s truly taking place is that these, these you understand, folks, these poor guys, are getting despatched right into a meat grinder for cash. That’s what’s truly 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 army is growing older out. You get 40 and 50 12 months outdated guys preventing in a warfare as a result of there’s no person left that’s not killed or maimed of their 20s. That’s the fact. Think about how many individuals that’s, in the event you’re a humanitarian in any respect, you simply acquired to finish the warfare, like, it doesn’t matter what, simply get it over with.
“The president has a variety of empathy. He actually cares. You know, he’s good, he’s an excellent man.”
Musk: Yes, folks, they should cease dying and the graft machines acquired to cease, you understand, so, and I believe those that don’t, lots of people on the market don’t understand, like, the president has a variety of empathy. He actually cares. You know, he’s good, he’s an excellent man.
Schmitt: I acquired yet one more 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 acquired the rockets, you bought the vehicles. I’ve all the time 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 continues to be sporting the sun shades, having by no means taken them off this complete time.
Musk: My thoughts is a storm. So. It’s a storm.
Musk: But, however, I imply, let me possibly let you know one thing like, you didn’t ask the query, however, however I believe it’s price 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 exhibits and, like, it appeared like America cared about being the nice guys, you understand, about doing the appropriate factor and, and that’s truly fairly uncommon, by the way in which. [laughs]
Schmitt: In the world, it’s very uncommon. Yeah, it’s not like, truly, international locations don’t do this.
Musk: No, they don’t, no. And so I used to be like, Yeah, you understand, you need to be this good. You need to be on the facet of excellent. You need to care about what’s proper. And, and uh, yeah. So that’s, that’s, yeah, what I imagine in.
Audience 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, displaying a standing ovation.
Schmitt: Thank you. Thank you a lot. Appreciate 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 massive fan artwork portray of Musk himself. He grabs the portray with one hand and the chainsaw with the opposite.
