Internet memory is a weird thing. One day everyone is talking about a rocket launch, and the next, a grainy clip from years ago resurfaces and starts trending like it’s breaking news. That is basically what happened with the Elon Musk with chainsaw video, a moment that feels like a fever dream but is actually a very real piece of tech history.
People see it and immediately start asking questions. Is it AI? Is it a deepfake? Why is the richest man in the world wielding power tools in a high-tech facility?
The reality is simpler, though maybe just as strange. It’s not a leaked video from a secret underground lair. It’s a moment from a 2018 event that has become a permanent fixture in the "Elon Lore" library, right next to the flamethrower and the Cybertruck window smash.
Where Did the Elon Musk With Chainsaw Video Actually Come From?
To understand why he’s holding a chainsaw, you have to look at the context of The Boring Company. Back in 2018, Elon was obsessed with "the brick." He had this idea that the dirt being dug up by his tunneling machines could be compressed into interlocking bricks—basically giant LEGOs made of California soil—to build low-cost housing.
During an event meant to showcase the progress of the Hawthorne test tunnel, Musk decided to get hands-on.
He wasn't just standing there. He was demonstrating.
The Elon Musk with chainsaw video captures him cutting through a wooden structure or a "prop" during the presentation. It wasn't about the chainsaw itself; it was about the spectacle. Musk has always been a master of the "Steve Jobs" style reveal, but with a much more chaotic, DIY energy. He likes to touch the hardware. He likes to show that things are being built, even if the method looks a bit unconventional for a CEO of multiple billion-dollar companies.
The footage usually shows him wearing a black t-shirt, looking slightly awkward but enthusiastic, as he revs the tool. It’s the kind of visual that PR departments usually have nightmares about, but for Musk’s brand, it was perfect. It signaled that he was a "builder," not just a guy in a suit.
Is it a Deepfake or Real?
In 2026, we’ve reached a point where you can’t trust anything you see on a screen. AI video generation has gotten so good that "Elon Musk doing [X]" is a common prompt for people testing new models.
However, this specific clip is authentic.
We can verify this because the event was attended by numerous journalists from outlets like The Verge and Bloomberg. They were there. They took photos. They recorded the same moment from different angles.
What makes the Elon Musk with chainsaw video so persistent is that it looks like it should be fake. It’s got that slightly chaotic, "is this a meme?" quality that defines much of his public persona. In an era of Sora and high-end generative AI, the graininess of the 2018 footage actually helps prove its age. It looks like 2018. The lighting is natural, the physics of the sawdust are consistent, and the people in the background are real humans who existed in that space.
The Cultural Impact of Musk Holding Power Tools
Why do we care? Honestly, it’s because it fits the "Tony Stark" narrative that Musk cultivated for over a decade. Most CEOs are seen in boardrooms. Musk is seen with flamethrowers, chainsaws, and rocket engines.
This video specifically became a reaction meme.
Whenever X (formerly Twitter) makes a massive change—like firing half the staff or rebranding the entire platform overnight—users go back to the Elon Musk with chainsaw video. It’s the perfect visual metaphor for his "move fast and break things" philosophy. Sometimes he’s building a tunnel; sometimes he’s just cutting through the noise.
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There is also a darker side to the fascination. Critics of Musk use these clips to paint a picture of a "man-child" with too much power and too many dangerous toys. For them, the chainsaw isn't a tool of construction; it's a symbol of reckless destruction. This duality is exactly why the video never truly dies. Depending on your political or tech-bro leanings, he’s either a visionary builder or a guy who doesn't know how to handle a power tool safely.
Technical Context: The Boring Company and the Tunnel
The event where the video was filmed was a big deal for The Boring Company. They were trying to prove that tunneling could be done ten times cheaper and faster than current industry standards.
They failed at that specific goal, mostly.
While the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop exists and functions, the grand vision of a massive underground network of high-speed pods has mostly shifted toward Teslas driving in narrow pipes. But the Elon Musk with chainsaw video remains as a relic of that early, hyper-ambitious era. It reminds people of the time when he was promising 150 mph commutes under Los Angeles.
Why Viral Videos Like This Matter for SEO
If you're wondering why this keeps appearing in your feed, it's because of the way Google’s algorithms work. When a public figure does something controversial or "newsworthy" in the present day, the algorithm looks for high-engagement historical content related to them.
The Elon Musk with chainsaw video has high "watch time" and "re-watchability." People watch it to see if it's real. They watch it to see if he’s going to hurt himself (he doesn't). They watch it because it's weird.
This creates a feedback loop.
- Musk does something on X.
- People search for "Elon Musk crazy videos."
- The chainsaw video surfaces because it has years of SEO authority.
- A new generation of users sees it and thinks it happened yesterday.
The Safety Aspect: Don't Try This at Home
Watching the clip, anyone who has actually used a chainsaw will notice a few things. First, Musk isn't exactly wearing full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). He’s got the tool, he’s got the enthusiasm, but he lacks the chaps and the face shield you'd expect in a professional setting.
This is part of the appeal.
It feels unscripted. It feels "raw." In a world of highly polished corporate communications, seeing a guy rev a chainsaw in a t-shirt feels authentic to his fans. To safety professionals, it’s a "what not to do" video.
The Elon Musk with chainsaw video is a snapshot of a specific time in tech culture. It was before the Twitter acquisition, before the massive political shifts, and back when the biggest controversy was whether or not a flamethrower was actually a "Not-a-Flamethrower."
Actionable Insights for Navigating Viral Tech Media
When you see a video like this pop up, don't just take it at face value. Viral clips are often stripped of their date and context to make them feel current.
- Check the timestamp: Always look for the original upload date. Most "new" Musk videos are actually 5 to 7 years old.
- Verify the source: If it’s only on a random TikTok account with "phonk" music over it, it’s probably old or edited. Look for the original press coverage from 2018.
- Look for the "tell": In the Elon Musk with chainsaw video, you can see the "Boring Company" branding. That’s your biggest clue that this was a specific corporate event, not a random weekend project.
- Understand the "Why": Musk uses these visuals as marketing. The chainsaw wasn't necessary for the tunnel; it was necessary for the image of the tunnel.
If you’re trying to keep up with what’s actually happening in tech today, treat these viral blasts from the past as entertainment, not news. They tell us more about the persona of the person in the video than they do about the actual state of the technology being discussed.
The next time you see the Elon Musk with chainsaw video on your "For You" page, you'll know exactly what you're looking at: a seven-year-old PR stunt for a tunnel company that somehow managed to become a permanent part of the internet's collective consciousness. It’s a classic example of how a single 15-second clip can outlast the very products it was meant to promote. Keep an eye out for the next one, because if history tells us anything, there will definitely be a "next one" involving a sledgehammer or a rocket part.