Elon Musk Responds to Drug use Claims Amid Political engagement
At a joint press briefing held in the Oval Office alongside former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk abruptly halted a reporter’s question concerning a recent New York Times article alleging his extensive drug use over the past year. The piece claimed that Musk carried a pill organizer filled with adderall and other substances while simultaneously increasing his financial backing for Trump’s campaign. even though Musk challenged the reliability of the report, he stopped short of issuing an outright denial.
Questioning Media Trustworthiness Without Direct Refutation
musk deflected the inquiry by referencing whether it was “the same outlet awarded a Pulitzer Prize for flawed Russiagate coverage,” alluding to previous disputes involving the newspaper’s reporting on alleged Russian interference in U.S. elections and Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Pulitzer board. This exchange took place as Musk concluded his final day at the White House alongside Trump.
Insights from Allegations on Substance Consumption
The investigative article, published just hours before their press conference, cited anonymous insiders who claimed that Musk admitted to using significant amounts of ketamine-enough to cause bladder complications-as well as ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. Reporters also noted an image showing a medication container carried by Musk containing approximately 20 pills, including Adderall.
Connection Between Drug Use Allegations and Political Donations
The timeline of these purported drug habits overlaps with musk’s heightened political activity last year: publicly endorsing Trump in July followed by contributing $250 million toward his re-election campaign. Despite repeated requests for comment from The Times, neither musk nor his legal team responded directly; though, he has previously confirmed using ketamine under medical supervision as part of depression treatment.
Official reactions and Public Remarks
The White House praised musk’s involvement related to DOGE but refrained from addressing any accusations regarding drug use after publication of the story.
Corporate Concerns Over Executive Substance use emerge
A separate examination last year revealed apprehension among executives and board members within some of Musk’s companies about his recreational use of substances such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms, and ketamine-raising questions about potential effects on leadership consistency.
Musk’s Evolving Political Role Amidst Controversy
After a brief yet tumultuous period marked by aggressive budget cuts at DOGE that drew criticism from Republican lawmakers, Elon Musk has signaled plans to reduce political expenditures moving forward.before endorsing Trump mid-2025 and becoming one of his largest conservative donors financially supporting right-leaning causes, he maintained relatively low political visibility with occasional donations favoring Democrats.
This month also saw him openly criticize Trump’s signature legislative proposal due to concerns over its impact on federal deficits-a position diverging from Trump’s agenda despite their ongoing cordial relationship-and formally announce stepping away entirely from White House involvement.
Musk faces Declining Popularity Amid Intensifying Scrutiny
Nate Silver’s most recent polling data indicates Elon Musk now holds an unfavorable rating near 54%, representing a steep 14-point decline as July 2025 amid growing controversies surrounding both personal conduct allegations and political entanglements.
Billionaire Status remains Unshaken Despite Public Challenges
Despite setbacks affecting public perception across social media platforms like Twitter (now X), Forbes estimates Elon Musk continues as the world’s wealthiest individual with an approximate net worth of $428 billion according to mid-2026 assessments.
