The tech mogul was referring to a violent outbreak of vandalism on Tesla vehicles earlier this year after he began working with the second Trump administration. Musk also said joining Washington never gave him any illusions. He blasted what he called “massive transfer payments” to migrants and claimed the system creates a “gigantic money magnet” that encourages people to come to the US. Billionaire Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), holds a chainsaw as he speaks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 20, 2025. AFP via Getty Images “I wouldn’t say I was super illusioned to begin with,” he shrugged, before launching into a blistering critique of government spending. Despite the heavy political talk, the X owner frequently veered into the personal. He confessed that “AI nightmares” still jolt him awake — “many days in a row,” he said — and he’s running life on six hours of sleep. When asked what actually keeps him up, Musk deadpanned: “Why do I wake up in nightmares? Oh, AI. Yeah.” Elon Musk shows off a shirt that says “DOGE” as he walks on the South Lawn of the white House after stepping off Marine One upon arrival to the White House in Washington, DC on March 9, 2025. AFP via Getty Images