As Elon Musk concluded his tenure working for President Donald Trump, he faced questions regarding his alleged drug use, which a report released Friday indicated was more widespread than previously known.
During his last day in office, while standing next to Trump in the Oval Office, Musk dismissed a reporter’s inquiry about allegations reported in the New York Times. These allegations claimed he regularly used ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms while accompanying Trump on the campaign trail the previous year. When questioned about the report, Musk retorted, “The New York Times. Is that the same publication that won a Pulitzer Prize for inaccurate reporting on Russiagate?” He was referencing conservative critiques of the Times’ coverage of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election. He then stated, “Let’s move on.”
Over the past year, Musk maintained a prominent presence at the White House, participating in Cabinet meetings, frequently appearing with Trump in the Oval Office, and acting as the public representative of the , a group of engineers dedicated to identifying waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government. While his position was technically unpaid and temporary, its scope and influence expanded significantly, often bypassing standard bureaucratic procedures.
However, as Musk’s public profile grew, so did concerns regarding his private behavior. The Times report depicted an increasingly unstable individual whose drug use extended beyond his previously disclosed ketamine prescription. Sources familiar with his activities claimed he told associates that his excessive ketamine use was harming his bladder, a recognized consequence of prolonged abuse. The Times also reported that he traveled with a daily pill organizer containing approximately 20 pills, including Adderall.
It is still uncertain whether Musk was under the influence while performing his government duties. Some critics have pointed to his erratic conduct, including a gesture resembling a Nazi salute at a rally, incoherent responses during interviews, and frequent insults aimed at high-ranking Trump administration officials.
The White House chose not to directly address the issue. Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, told reporters on Friday that he had no concerns regarding Musk’s alleged drug use. Miller stated, “The drugs I’m concerned about are the drugs that are coming across the border from the criminal cartels that are killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.”
Musk has previously acknowledged his past recreational drug use. In a 2024 interview with Don Lemon, he admitted to taking “a small amount” of prescribed ketamine, approximately every two weeks, to alleviate negative moods, but claimed his demanding workload prevented excessive use. “If you’ve used too much ketamine, you can’t really get work done, and I have a lot of work,” he stated.
Musk announced on Friday his intention to continue advising Trump and the U.S. DOGE Service after formally leaving the government to dedicate more time to his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. During his government service, Musk oversaw DOGE’s extensive reductions to the federal workforce as part of the Trump Administration’s initiative to significantly decrease federal spending. He initially aimed to cut $2 trillion from the nation’s approximately $6.8 trillion federal budget before revising that figure. DOGE’s website asserts that it has achieved $175 billion in estimated savings, but reports have indicated that its claims are exaggerated and misleading. TIME has been unable to independently confirm these savings.
“I expect to continue to provide advice, whenever the President would like advice,” Musk said on Friday.
“I hope so,” Trump chimed in.
“I expect to remain a friend and an adviser,’ Musk added, “and certainly, if there’s anything the President wants me to do, I’m at the President’s service.”
“`
