Donald Trump had an unorthodox response when asked about Elon Musk’s alleged drug use during his time running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Last week, the billionaire tech mogul announced the end of his tenure leading the agency.
It’s been a turbulent stretch for Musk since he assumed the “special government employee” role back in January. His aggressive push to slash the federal workforce, dismantle entire departments, and gut funding for programs like foreign aid has sparked significant backlash—both within the White House and beyond.
While the Tesla and SpaceX boss extended a gracious thanks to President Trump for ‘the opportunity’, with hopes DOGE’s mission will continue to ‘strengthen’, the White House is also apparently ‘happy to have him go,’ reports The Independent.
However, Musk was allegedly using drugs – ketamine, ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms and Adderall – and had a ‘pill box’ of medications that he took with him on his travels, sources told the New York Times in a bombshell report.
The outlet reported Musk had taken the drugs, which can be taken both recreationally and medically, as often as once a day last year.
The sources were unable to confirm whether his alleged drug use took place while he led DOGE or during the 2024 campaign bid, and the world’s richest man has since lashed out at the report.
The tech mogul has slammed the allegations (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
In response to the allegations, he told Fox News: “The New York Times. Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russiagate? Let’s move on.”
Musk also took to Twitter, writing that he is ‘NOT taking drugs’ and that he had ‘tried *prescription* ketamine a few years ago’ but has not ‘taken it since then’.
The US president was asked by reporters about the damning report into his ‘First Buddy’ on Friday (May 30).
Trump said he wasn’t aware of Musk’s apparent habits, saying: “No, I wasn’t. I think he’s fantastic. I think Elon is a fantastic guy.”
Trump defending his buddy as a ‘fantastic guy’ (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Then when pressed about the matter further and if he was concerned by the report, he added: “I’m not troubled by anything with Elon. I think he’s fantastic. Did a great job. And, you know, DOGE continues. And by the time it’s finished, we’ll have numbers that’ll knock your socks off. It’s gonna be uh, he did a fantastic job. And he didn’t need it. He didn’t need to do it.”
The comments came as Trump suggested Musk, whose 130 days as a special government employee are now at a close, won’t be entirely disappearing from the radar.
He said: “Elon’s really not leaving. He’s going to be back and forth, I think, I have a feeling.”
Talking about DOGE, Trump added: “It’s his baby, and I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”
