Throughout an Oval Workplace send-off Friday marking the top of his formal position with the Trump administration, Elon Musk lashed out when requested a few New York Times report alleging he was a frequent consumer of the drug ketamine through the 2024 marketing campaign.
“The New York Occasions. Is that the identical publication that received a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russiagate?” Musk requested whereas standing alongside President Trump, chopping off a query from Fox Information reporter Peter Doocy concerning the Occasions. “Let’s transfer on.”
Musk’s remarks got here on the identical day that the Occasions reported he used ketamine — which can be utilized each recreationally and medically — as usually as as soon as a day in 2024. Musk has informed individuals he took ketamine so often that it affected his bladder, and he has additionally used ecstasy and magic mushrooms at instances, the paper stated, citing unnamed sources.
CBS Information has reached out to Musk and his spokesperson for remark.
Musk has said publicly he has a prescription for ketamine. However he informed journalist Don Lemon final 12 months he makes use of it sometimes, taking a “small quantity as soon as each different week” to assist him get out of a “depressive mindstate.” He informed Lemon he would not really feel he is abused the drug, saying, “should you use an excessive amount of ketamine, you possibly can’t actually get work executed…and I’ve quite a lot of work.”
Musk additionally informed Lemon that at instances, weeks will go by with out him utilizing ketamine.
The Wall Road Journal reported last year that some Musk associates fear his reported drug use may hurt his companies, which embrace Tesla, SpaceX, social community X and a number of other different companies. The billionaire has dismissed any considerations concerning the affect on his corporations, telling Lemon, “what issues is execution.”
Musk has stated he has a top-secret security clearance, which usually requires drug testing.
A hallucinogenic drug, ketamine is permitted by the Meals and Drug Administration as an anesthetic. The FDA says it has not approved ketamine to deal with psychiatric problems, although one of the molecules that makes up ketamine will be administered underneath medical supervision to deal with melancholy. It’s also typically distributed illegally.
Ketamine will be “very harmful” when used recreationally, Dr. Angelique Campen, an emergency room physician in California, has previously told CBS Information Los Angeles. The drug drew consideration after it was partly blamed for the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry.
The Oval Workplace back-and-forth got here as Musk wrapped up his stint as a “particular authorities worker” within the Trump administration, the place he oversaw the cost-cutting Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE. Musk and his crew have swept by means of the federal government in latest months, slashing federal contracts and chopping workers — drawing applause from Trump allies and condemnation from opponents.
Musk had predicted he may minimize $1 trillion from the federal funds, however the administration says DOGE has saved about $170 billion to date — although Musk predicted Friday the $1 trillion objective continues to be attainable “over time.” A number of the cuts tallied by DOGE have contained errors, and one evaluation estimates DOGE may end up costing the federal government a whole bunch of billions on account of misplaced productiveness and adjustments to federal employees’ standing.
In latest days, Musk has criticized components of Mr. Trump’s agenda. He told CBS News earlier this week he has some “variations of opinion” with the administration, and feels “a little bit caught in a bind” when he disagrees. He also said he was “dissatisfied” by the value tag of the One Large Stunning Invoice Act, a sweeping Trump-backed invoice handed by Home Republicans final week.
However in Friday’s Oval Workplace occasion, Mr. Trump was laudatory of Musk, saying his position “has been with out comparability in fashionable historical past.” Musk stated he expects to maintain visiting the White Home and can function a “buddy and adviser” to the president.
Weijia Jiang and
contributed to this report.
