Elon Musk responds to drug use allegations with negative test results
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Image: X
Elon Musk took to X to openly share the results of a negative drug test.
This is in response to allegations made by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal about his alleged substance use.
He shared a screenshot of the test results, with a fiery message targeting the media outlets.
“The WSJ & New York Times fake ‘journalists’ lied through their teeth about me. Now let’s see their drug test results. They will fail," Musk wrote.
The post comes weeks after The New York Times (NYT) published a report alleging that Musk’s drug use was “more intense” than previously known, especially during the 2024 presidential campaign.
At the time, he was a vocal supporter of then-candidate Donald Trump.
Citing private messages and interviews with over a dozen individuals who have either known or worked closely with Musk, the NYT article claimed the SpaceX and Tesla CEO regularly used various substances.
“Mr. Musk’s drug consumption went well beyond occasional use,” the NYT report stated.
“He told people he was taking so much ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic, that it was affecting his bladder, a known effect of chronic use. He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. And he travelled with a daily medication box that held about 20 pills, including ones with the markings of the stimulant Adderall, according to a photo of the box and people who have seen it.”
In response to Musk’s online defence, the NYT stood by its reporting.
Their communications team posted a statement on X, saying: “Elon Musk is continuing to lash out because he doesn't like our reporting. Nothing that he's said or presented since our article about his drug use during the presidential campaign was published contradicts what we uncovered. We stand by our journalism.”
Musk previously admitted to using ketamine for depression.
"There are times when I have sort of a ... negative chemical state in my brain, like depression, I guess, or depression that's not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind," he told journalist Don Lemon in an interview.
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