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Elon Musk has publicly refuted claims made by The New York Times that he extensively used ketamine and other drugs while on the campaign trail in 2024. The report, published Friday, alleged that the billionaire — now a key advisor to President Donald Trump — took large quantities of ketamine, leading to bladder issues, and also used ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.
In a firm denial posted on his social media platform X on Saturday, Musk wrote: “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.” He acknowledged having used prescription ketamine “a few years ago” for mental health reasons, a fact he said was already public, but insisted he hasn’t used it since.
The controversy intensified after Musk appeared alongside Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, formally ending his tenure as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he held since Trump returned to office in January. Musk was seen sporting a black eye during the event, drawing speculation due to its timing — just hours after the Times article was published.
Addressing the visible bruise, Musk claimed it was the result of playfully telling his five-year-old son, X, to punch him in the face. “And he did,” Musk said, suggesting the child’s blow was unexpectedly forceful.
The Times article also highlighted some of Musk’s erratic public behaviour over the past year, including an incident in January where he allegedly gave a Nazi-style salute at a pro-Trump rally.
When asked by a reporter if he was aware of Musk’s alleged drug use, President Trump replied, “I wasn’t,” but added, “I think Elon is a fantastic guy.”
Musk has previously spoken about his prescribed use of ketamine to treat depressive moods and has argued that, in some cases, controlled drug use has enhanced his creativity and work performance.
