Elon Musk Responds to Drug Allegations: "Tried Prescription Ketamine"

Elon Musk pushed back Saturday against a report by The New York Times alleging that he used ketamine and other drugs extensively in 2023 while advising former President Donald Trump during his campaign. The tech billionaire denied the claims, calling the article "a lie" and saying his past prescription use of ketamine was publicly disclosed and not recent.

The Times report, published Friday, alleged that Musk a prominent Trump ally and the world’s richest man used such high quantities of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, that he developed bladder issues. The article further claimed that Musk also used ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms and reportedly traveled with a pill box during his time on the 2024 campaign trail. However, the report did not confirm whether he took any substances while serving in a government advisory role after Trump’s return to office in January as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Taking to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote: “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.” He continued, “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 controversy erupted after Musk made a peculiar farewell appearance alongside Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, where he sported a visible black eye as he officially ended his tenure as DOGE’s chief cost-cutter a role in which he oversaw major federal downsizing, including the dismissal of tens of thousands of civil servants.

The timing of Musk’s injury raised eyebrows, especially in light of the Times report. In response to questions, Musk said the injury was the result of play-wrestling with his young son, X. “I told him to punch me in the face. And he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…” Musk said, before trailing off.

In a press briefing later that day, when asked if he was aware of Musk’s alleged “regular drug use,” Trump replied, “I wasn’t,” adding, “I think Elon is a fantastic guy.”

Musk has previously acknowledged using ketamine under medical supervision to manage what he described as a “negative frame of mind.” He has also defended limited drug use as potentially beneficial to creativity and productivity. Nonetheless, the latest allegations have sparked renewed debate about the personal conduct of influential figures in both government and business.

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Source: NDTV‍