Musk Denies Drug Allegations: 'I Am NOT Taking Drugs!'

WASHINGTON: On Saturday, Elon Musk refuted a claim that he frequently used ketamine and other substances during his 2024 presidential campaign activities throughout the previous year.

The New York Times reported Friday that the billionaire adviser to president Donald Trump used so much ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, that he developed bladder problems.

The newspaper said the world’s richest person also took ecstasy and mushrooms and traveled with a pill box last year, adding that it was not known whether Musk also took drugs while heading the so-called department of government efficiency (DOGE) after Trump took power in January.

On a post Saturday on X, Musk stated: "Let me clarify, I am NOT using drugs! The New York Times was completely fabricating the story."

He stated, "A few years back, I experimented with 'prescribed' ketamine, as mentioned on platform X, hence this isn't new information. It can be helpful for escaping deep mental lows, but I haven't used it again since."

Musk initially avoided addressing questions regarding his substance use during an unusual send-off event on Friday alongside Trump in the Oval Office. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX appeared with a prominent black eye while officially concluding his position as Trump’s primary budget cutter for DOGE, where many civil servants were laid off.

The news of the injury garnered significant attention since it followed shortly after the Times' report about his alleged drug use. The newspaper recounted instances of unusual conduct, including Musk offering what appeared to be an exuberant Nazi salute earlier this year.

Musk said he got the injury while horsing around with his young son, named X, when he told the child to hit him in the face.

“And he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…” he added, before tailing off.

On Friday later, when a journalist enquired if Trump knew about Musk’s frequent drug usage, Trump replied with "I wasn't."

"I believe Elon is an amazing person," he mentioned additionally.

Musk has earlier confessed to using ketamine, mentioning that he was prescribed this drug to address a "negative state of mind" and implying that his substance use enhanced his productivity.