Elon Musk has rejected allegations that he used ketamine and other drugs heavily during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, dismissing a recent *New York Times* article as “a lie.”
Published on Friday, May 30, the report alleged that Musk—who served as a prominent adviser to then-candidate Donald Trump—used large quantities of ketamine, resulting in bladder issues. It also claimed he consumed ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, and was frequently seen carrying a pill box throughout 2023. The report did not clarify whether Musk continued drug use after being appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following Trump’s inauguration in January.
Musk responded on Saturday, May 31, via his social media platform X: “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The *New York Times* was lying their ass off.” He acknowledged past use of 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 article coincided with Musk’s final appearance at the White House, marking the end of his tenure as head of DOGE. The event drew attention for its peculiar atmosphere, with Musk appearing with a visible black eye. He attributed the injury to playful roughhousing with his five-year-old son, publicly known as X, commenting: “Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…” before trailing off.
The report also resurfaced previous controversies, including Musk’s widely criticized salute during a January rally celebrating Trump’s second inauguration—a gesture some observers likened to a Nazi-style salute.
When asked about the drug claims during Friday’s event, Trump said he was unaware of any substance use by Musk. “I wasn’t,” he said. “I think Elon is a fantastic guy.”
Musk has previously disclosed that he was prescribed ketamine for mental health reasons. In earlier interviews, he suggested that, when used responsibly, certain substances had positively influenced his creativity and work.
