Elon Musk Denies Drug Abuse Allegations from NYT, Slams Report as ‘Lies’

Breaking silence,CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk Denies Drug Abuse Allegations from NYT, Slams Report as ‘Lies’. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a close adviser to President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign, has publicly denied bombshell allegations by The New York  Times that claim he abused ketamine, ecstasy, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

In a strongly worded response posted on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), Musk called the report “bs” and accused the Times of lying “their ass off.”

Elon Musk Denies Drug Abuse Allegations from NYT, Slams Report as ‘Lies’

NYT Report Alleges Heavy Drug Use During 2024 Campaign

In a detailed exposé released on Friday, The New York Times cited anonymous sources who claimed Musk engaged in “intense” drug use during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign. The report accused Musk of traveling with a pill box containing up to 20 pills and using ketamine so extensively that it allegedly caused bladder problems.

It also alleged he consumed ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms regularly while serving in a senior advisory role within the Trump administration. According to the article, Musk’s reported drug habits caused concern among colleagues, with some linking them to erratic behavior including his much-criticized Nazi-style salute at a political rally and giving disjointed interview responses.

Musk’s Blunt Response: “Lying Their Ass Off”

Musk fired back on Saturday with a firm denial.

“To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off,” Musk wrote on X.

He added context to his past statements about ketamine:

“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.”

Musk emphasized that, due to his high-profile life and constant public presence, any heavy drug use would have been impossible to hide:

“I’m in meetings with dozens to hundreds of people every day and am photographed constantly. If this bs from NYT were true, it would have been EXTREMELY obvious 🤣🤣,” he posted.

The Black Eye Incident and Trump’s Reaction

The allegations came just as Musk made a farewell appearance at the White House on May 30, formally ending his tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created office tasked with slashing federal workforce numbers. During the Oval Office press briefing, Musk appeared with a noticeable black eye.

While Musk initially avoided the drug-use question, he later explained the injury as 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…” Musk joked, trailing off.

President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters after a Pennsylvania rally that same day, denied knowledge of Musk’s alleged drug use: “I wasn’t [aware]. I think Elon is a fantastic guy. I’m not troubled by anything with Elon,” Trump said.

Netizens Come to Musk’s Defense

Musk’s defenders flooded X with responses criticizing the New York Times and defending the tech mogul. “The NYT’s hit piece on Elon is patheticUK tabloids have more class,” wrote user Pierre Ferragu. Others mocked the paper’s reliance on anonymous sources and brought up Musk’s past transparency:

“They’ll now go through every photo and piece of footage looking for funny expressions 😆,” another user joked. A third user pointed out, “It’s funny that they quoted your so-called ‘friend’ Philip Low,” referencing the neuroscientist previously linked to Musk in biographical accounts.

Past Admissions of Prescription Ketamine Use

Elon Musk has openly acknowledged using prescription ketamine in the past to address depressive symptoms. In his biography, he stated: “I really don’t like doing illegal drugs.”

He also previously suggested that the ketamine use under medical supervision helped boost his productivity and creativity during dark periods. His openness about mental health struggles has sparked both praise and criticism in equal measure.

This isn’t the first time Musk’s alleged drug use has made headlines. In 2018, he famously smoked marijuana during a live podcast with Joe Rogan, which briefly impacted Tesla’s stock value and raised concerns among investors and board members.

The Department of Government Efficiency and Political Fallout

Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) placed him at the heart of Trump’s re-election campaign and early governance following his second inauguration in January 2025. DOGE led aggressive cost-cutting measures, including the termination of tens of thousands of civil servants.

While the New York Times article stops short of confirming drug use during Musk’s time at DOGE, it raises questions about whether his mental state influenced key government decisions.

Critics argue that Musk’s behavior, including the controversial Nazi-style salute at a January inauguration rally, reflects instability possibly exacerbated by substance use. Supporters counter that the accusations are politically motivated and lack substantiated evidence.

Media Ethics and Musk’s Relationship with the Press

This latest controversy reignites the long-standing feud between Elon Musk and mainstream media, particularly The New York Times. Musk has repeatedly accused major news outlets of biased reporting and has used his platform, X, to bypass traditional media channels entirely.

His latest response doubles down on that strategy directly addressing followers and labeling the NYT report as a smear campaign. “Dressing up shoddy reporting in fancy prose is just cheap, dishonest nonsense,” one supporter posted.

Conclusion: Fallout Continues

As the dust settles from this high-profile media clash, the long-term consequences for Elon Musk remain unclear. His standing with President Trump appears intact for now, and public reaction is largely split along political and ideological lines.

However, questions linger over the credibility of the anonymous sources cited in the NYT article and the implications of Musk’s erratic public persona.

Whether the story fizzles or ignites further investigation, it’s clear that Elon Musk remains as polarizing and headline-grabbing as ever.

Also Read: Elon Musk Turns on Trump Over ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: Rift Deepens Ahead of Key Vote

Also Read: NYT claims Musk carried 20 pills daily, used Ketamine; he denies drug abuse