Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has publicly refuted claims made in a recent New York Times report alleging he regularly used ketamine and other drugs during the 2024 election season while advising former President Donald Trump.
The Times article, published Friday, claimed that Musk’s drug use—particularly ketamine—was so extensive that it reportedly led to bladder complications. The report also alleged that Musk consumed ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, and often traveled with a pill box during his campaign activities.
However, the newspaper could not confirm whether he continued drug use while leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he took on after Trump’s return to office in January.
Taking to his platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Musk responded forcefully: “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.” He clarified that while he had tried “prescription ketamine” in the past, he hadn’t used it in recent years. “It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but haven’t taken it since then,” he wrote.
Musk had previously acknowledged using ketamine under medical supervision to manage his mental health, stating publicly that it had helped shift his negative mindset and, in his view, enhanced his creativity and productivity.
Questions about the report intensified following Musk’s final public appearance with Trump at the White House on Friday, where he formally concluded his role as Trump’s cost-cutting czar at DOGE—a tenure marked by sweeping layoffs across federal departments. During the event, Musk appeared with a visible black eye, fueling speculation.
The Times highlighted past episodes of Musk’s erratic behavior, including a controversial salute reminiscent of Nazi gestures during Trump’s January 2025 inauguration rally.
Addressing the black eye, Musk explained that it was the result of playful roughhousing with his five-year-old son, X. “Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…” he joked, trailing off mid-sentence.
When reporters later asked Trump whether he was aware of Musk’s alleged drug use, the former president said, “I wasn’t,” but also praised Musk, calling him “a fantastic guy.”
While Musk has been candid about his occasional use of ketamine for mental health reasons, he maintained that the Times report exaggerated and distorted the facts. He did not comment on the other drug allegations directly.
What you should know
Elon Musk has rejected a New York Times report accusing him of heavy drug use during the 2024 campaign. While he has admitted in the past to using ketamine under prescription, he insists he is currently drug-free and accused the Times of publishing false information.
