Tech billionaire Elon Musk has firmly denied a recent New York Times report that accused him of regularly using ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms while serving as a high-level adviser to former President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign and transition period.
The report, published Friday, claimed that Musk’s alleged heavy use of ketamine — a powerful anesthetic — led to bladder issues, and that he frequently traveled with a pill box. The article also raised questions about whether Musk used drugs while overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the controversial Trump administration initiative tasked with slashing federal bureaucracy.
Responding publicly on Saturday via his social media platform, X, Musk dismissed the allegations. “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off,” he wrote. He acknowledged past use of prescription ketamine for mental health reasons, a fact he has previously shared online, but insisted he has not taken the substance in recent years. “It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but haven’t taken it since then,” Musk said.
The report was released just one day after Musk appeared in a strange farewell event at the White House with Trump, marking the end of his tenure as the head of DOGE — a department that drew criticism for eliminating tens of thousands of government jobs. During the appearance, Musk sported a visible black eye, which fueled further speculation in the wake of the drug allegations.
Musk addressed the injury, attributing it to a playful moment with his young son, known as “X.” “I told him to hit me in the face, and he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…” he said, trailing off mid-sentence.
When asked by a reporter later that day whether he was aware of Musk’s alleged “regular drug use,” Trump replied, “I wasn’t,” but went on to praise the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. “I think Elon is a fantastic guy,” the former president said.
Musk has previously admitted to using ketamine to manage depression-like symptoms, and has suggested that it may have even enhanced his productivity. However, the Times report and recent public scrutiny have sparked renewed questions about his behavior and influence in both the tech world and politics.
