Elon Musk Dismisses Drug Use Allegations In Oval Office Farewell: 'Let's Move On'

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Last Updated:May 31, 2025, 07:25 IST

It was reported that Elon Musk used ketamine- a dissociative drug approved medically as an anesthetic- as often as daily in 2024.

In an Oval Office send-off marking the end of his official role with the Donald Trump administration, Elon Musk brushed off a question about a New York Times report alleging frequent ketamine use during the 2024 campaign, dismissing the publication and shifting focus back to his work with the US President.

“The New York Times. Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russiagate?" Elon Musk questioned, adding, “Let’s move on."

Elon Musk’s Use Of Ketamine

The remarks came the same day the New York Times reported that Elon Musk used ketamine- a dissociative drug approved medically as an anesthetic- as often as daily in 2024. The article cited unnamed sources who claimed Elon Musk told associates his ketamine use had affected his bladder and that he had also used other substances, including ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.

Elon Musk has publicly stated he holds a prescription for ketamine and, in an interview last year with journalist Don Lemon, claimed he uses it infrequently- “a small amount once every other week"- to manage depression.

He then said, “If you use too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done… and I have a lot of work."

Elon Musk’s Associates Worried About His Drug Use?

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal revealed concerns among some of Musk’s associates that his drug use could impact the operations of his vast business empire, which includes Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X. Elon Musk has downplayed those worries, insisting performance, not perception, is what matters, saying, “What matters is execution."

Elon Musk’s DOGE term ends

Elon Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee" in the Donald Trump administration, where he led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations, has ended.

Elon Musk claimed the department could save $1 trillion from the federal budget- a goal not yet reached. The administration reports DOGE has saved approximately $170 billion to date, though some audits have questioned the accuracy of those figures.

Donald Trump praised Musk at the event, calling his government role “without comparison in modern history." The tech boss echoed the sentiment, saying he intends to continue advising the president. “I’ll keep visiting. I’ll keep helping. I’m not really leaving."