Monday, June 2, 2025 - Elon
Musk has denied claims that he used ketamine and other drugs extensively during
the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, calling a recent report by The New
York Times “a lie.”
The newspaper reported on Friday, May 30, that Musk, who
served as a high-profile adviser to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump,
allegedly consumed large amounts of ketamine, leading to bladder problems. The
report also claimed Musk used ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, and was
frequently seen with a pill box throughout last year. It did not confirm
whether Musk continued using drugs while leading the Department of Government
Efficiency (DOGE), a post he held after Trump’s inauguration in January.
Responding on Saturday, May 31, via his social media
platform X, Musk wrote: “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times
was lying their ass off.” He acknowledged previously using prescription
ketamine, saying, “I tried ‘prescription’ ketamine a few years ago and said so
on X, so this [is] not even news. It helps for getting out of dark mental
holes, but haven’t taken it since then.”
The timing of the Times report coincided
with Musk’s final appearance at the White House on Friday, where he marked the
end of his tenure at DOGE. The event, noted for its unusual tone, featured Musk
with a visible black eye, prompting further speculation. Musk explained the injury
was the result of playful roughhousing with his five-year-old son, known
publicly as X. “Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face
actually is…” Musk remarked, trailing off mid-sentence.
The report also revived past controversies, citing erratic
behavior including Musk’s enthusiastic salute during a January rally marking
Trump’s second inauguration, an incident critics said resembled a Nazi-style
gesture.
Asked about the drug allegations during Friday’s event,
Trump said he was unaware of any substance use by Musk. “I wasn’t,” Trump
responded. “I think Elon is a fantastic guy.”
Musk has previously stated publicly that he was prescribed ketamine for mental health reasons, and in earlier interviews suggested that responsible drug use had, in his view, contributed positively to his creativity and work performance.
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