Elon Musk didn’t hold back during his final appearance at the White House on Friday, abruptly shutting down a question about his alleged ketamine use during a tense Oval Office moment. The billionaire tech mogul was wrapping up his formal advisory role with Donald Trump when a Fox News reporter asked about a New York Times investigation alleging he frequently used the hallucinogenic drug during the 2024 election season.
“The New York Times? You mean the outlet that got a Pulitzer for fake news on Russiagate?” Musk snapped, quickly cutting off Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. “Let’s move on.”
The tension arose shortly after the Times published claims that Musk reportedly took ketamine almost daily in 2024, even telling others it affected his bladder. According to unnamed sources, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO also experimented with ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.
While iHearts143Quotes News has reached out to Musk’s camp for clarification, the entrepreneur has previously stated he holds a prescription for ketamine. In an interview with Don Lemon last year, Musk claimed he takes only “a small dose once every other week” to help combat depression. He insisted he’s not misusing the drug, stating, “If you take too much ketamine, you can’t get anything done… and I have a lot to get done.”
Musk told Lemon that there are periods when he goes weeks without using ketamine, contradicting the Times’ claim of daily usage.
Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that some close to Musk are concerned his alleged drug habits could impact his leadership across major companies including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). But Musk dismissed those concerns, telling Lemon, “Execution is what matters.”
Despite holding top-secret security clearance, which typically involves routine drug screening, Musk remains defiant. Ketamine, while FDA-approved for anesthesia, is not officially sanctioned for treating mental health conditions outside of specific clinical use. A derivative is sometimes prescribed under medical supervision for depression, but ketamine is also known to be sold illegally.
Medical experts warn of its risks. “Recreational ketamine use can be extremely dangerous,” said California ER physician Dr. Angelique Campen in a previous CBS Los Angeles report. The drug gained notoriety after contributing to the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry.
As Musk faces growing scrutiny over his alleged drug use, his public reaction may spark even more headlines… and raise new questions about the world’s most controversial billionaire.
