WASHINGTON – Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has strongly denied a New York Times report alleging he used multiple drugs while advising Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. Musk rejected the story on Saturday, calling it false and sensational.
The New York Times report, published Friday, cited private messages and over a dozen unnamed sources. It claimed Musk frequently used ketamine, ecstasy, Adderall, and psychedelic mushrooms. The report also alleged Musk experienced bladder issues linked to heavy ketamine use and described his public behavior as erratic, including making a Nazi-style salute at a January rally.
Responding on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk said, “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.” He admitted to trying prescription ketamine years ago for depression, something he has spoken about publicly before, but emphasized he hasn’t taken it in a long time.
The controversy comes just days after Musk resigned from his role as director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created agency aimed at cutting federal spending. Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE reportedly oversaw massive job cuts across U.S. government departments.
Adding to the buzz, Musk appeared at a Friday White House press event with a black eye. When asked, he joked that the injury came from “play-fighting” with his five-year-old son, X Æ A-12. “Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…” Musk wrote, leaving the sentence unfinished.
When asked about the drug allegations, President Trump responded, “I think Elon is a fantastic guy,” and said he was unaware of any such behavior. Meanwhile, social media remains divided, with some users sharing videos they claim support the NYT’s report and others defending Musk’s explanation.