Elon Musk Faces Drug Use Allegations Ahead of Farewell Press Conference with Trump

New York Times report said the world's richest man also took ecstasy.

By DTD- On May 31, 2025

WASHINGTON – Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and former US government efficiency chief, is facing allegations of extensive ketamine use during the 2024 campaign trail, which reportedly caused bladder problems, according to a New York Times report published Friday.

The report claims that Musk, a major donor to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, also used ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms last year and carried a pill box during his travels. It remains unclear if Musk used drugs while serving as the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk has admitted to using ketamine, saying he was prescribed it to treat a “negative frame of mind,” and has previously suggested that his drug use enhanced his work. The anesthetic ketamine is known to cause dissociation and long-term bladder issues.

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Musk did not immediately respond to the report, while the White House downplayed the allegations. When questioned about Musk’s drug use, Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller remarked, “The drugs that we’re concerned about are the drugs running across the southern border,” referencing the administration’s focus on immigration and fentanyl control.

The news surfaced hours before Musk was scheduled to hold a farewell press conference alongside President Trump at the White House, marking the end of Musk’s four-month tenure in the Trump administration.

Trump praised Musk on Thursday, calling him “terrific” and assuring that Musk’s influence would continue despite stepping down. The joint press event will be Musk’s last official appearance with the administration.

Musk’s departure comes amid growing disillusionment with his government role and criticism of Trump’s proposed spending plans, which Musk says undermine the aggressive cost-cutting goals of DOGE. Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE implemented sweeping job cuts and shuttered agencies like USAID, triggering controversy over the impact on foreign aid and US global influence.

Despite Musk’s initial boasts of trimming two trillion dollars from government spending, independent trackers estimate savings between $2 billion and $12 billion—far below expectations.

Musk’s “move fast and break things” style also clashed with other administration officials. Concurrently, Musk’s companies faced setbacks: Tesla experienced declining sales and shareholder pressure for Musk’s increased involvement, while SpaceX endured a string of rocket failures.

As Musk exits the political scene, questions linger about his future direction both in business and public life.