Elon Musk has vehemently denied allegations published by the New York Times that he is using drugs "far more intensely than previously known." The accusations surfaced in an exposé claiming Musk's drug use escalated during his involvement with Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Musk took to X, the social media platform he owns, to refute the claims. "I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off," he wrote in a May 31 post. He admitted to trying prescription ketamine a few years ago for mental health purposes but stated he hasn't used it since.
The New York Times PR team responded to Musk's denial on X, stating that he was "lashing out" because he disliked their article. They claimed to have provided Musk with ample opportunity to respond to the allegations before publication, which he declined. The Times maintains the report is thoroughly sourced, citing interviews with a dozen people, private text messages, legal documents, and photographic evidence.
According to the Times article, Musk's drug consumption allegedly included ketamine, Ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms. The report also mentioned a daily medication box containing approximately 20 pills, including some with markings of the stimulant Adderall. Musk recently stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration, although he will continue to advise the president informally.
During a press conference last Friday, Musk refused to answer a question about the Times article. He instead questioned the publication's credibility, referencing their Pulitzer Prize for coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Musk alluded to Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prizes board, which is proceeding in Florida after initial attempts to dismiss or pause the case were rejected.