President Donald Trump said he is not aware of Elon Musk regularly using drugs, responding to a media report on the billionaires’ alleged drug use during the 2024 presidential campaign.
The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that Musk frequently used drugs such as ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms while campaigning with Trump in 2024. The paper said it was unclear whether Musk used drugs while working for Trump in the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump spoke to reporters May 30 after returning from a rally in Pennsylvania. He denied any knowledge of drug use by Musk and called him “fantastic.”
Asked if he was troubled by the report, Trump said: “I’m not troubled by anything with Elon.”
A reporter tried to ask Musk during an Oval Office event May 30 about his alleged drug use during the 2024 campaign. But Musk dodged the question and criticized the New York Times’ reporting on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“Let’s move on,” Musk said, standing behind the president at the Resolute Desk.
More: Musk leaves D.C. with black eye: 5 takeaways from Oval Office sendoff with Trump
Musk is the CEO of car maker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX, and he owns social-media platform X. He acknowledged in March 2024 that he used prescription ketamine to combat bouts of depression. He worried corporate executives by smoking marijuana during a podcast in 2018.
Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump not aware of Elon Musk’s reported campaign drug use
