Elon Musk has publicly denied allegations that he used ketamine and other drugs extensively during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign. The claims, reported by The New York Times, suggested that Musk, who was a key adviser to then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, consumed large amounts of ketamine, leading to health issues, and was also seen using ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.
In response, Musk took to his social media platform X to refute the story, calling it “a lie.” He clarified, “To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.” Musk acknowledged that he had previously used prescription ketamine for mental health reasons, stating, “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 New York Times article also mentioned Musk’s visible black eye during his last appearance at the White House as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), sparking speculation. Musk explained that the injury was from playful roughhousing with his five-year-old son.
Former President Trump, when asked about the drug allegations, said he was unaware of any substance use by Musk and described him as “a fantastic guy.”
Musk has previously spoken about being prescribed ketamine for mental health, but firmly denied ongoing or recreational drug use, dismissing the recent report as false.
