Elon Musk posts clean drug test, New York Times stands by drug use report

Elon Musk revealed a clean drug test on X recently, attacking coverage from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. — Image credit: Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Summary

Clean test

Elon Musk revealed a clean drug test taken during the week of June 8, trying to show proof that he had not used drugs.

Drug use

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have both published reports about Musk's drug use, which they did not retract after the post with the clean test.

Not backing down

Neither Musk or the publications are backing down over their claims, with the NYT saying it would stand by its reporting and Musk denying claims, saying that NYT and WSJ staff take drug tests themselves.

Full story

Elon Musk is pushing back against recent allegations of drug abuse, including those detailed in a New York Times report, by publicly sharing results from a recent drug test. The billionaire posted the results on X early Tuesday morning, June 17. The test, reportedly taken during the week of June 8, came back negative for nearly two dozen substances, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy. Musk captioned the post with a simple “lol.”

lol pic.twitter.com/pMe3YfXFxS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2025

The New York Times responds

The New York Times responded to Musk’s post, stating that the test does not disprove its earlier reporting in May. The outlet’s communications team said on X Musk “is continuing to lash out because he doesn’t like” what was published, and reaffirmed its earlier claims.

Elon Musk is continuing to lash out because he doesn't like our reporting. Nothing that he's said or presented since our article about his drug use during the presidential campaign was published contradicts what we uncovered. We stand by our journalism.
— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) June 17, 2025

The Times reported in a May 30 article that, citing anonymous sources, Musk had “developed a far more serious drug habit,” alleging he used ketamine “often — sometimes daily.” The article also claimed he took ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.

Pattern of clashes between Musk and media

Tuesday’s back-and-forth is not the first time Musk and the Times have traded shots on social media over the reporting.

Kirsten Grind and Megan Twohey's thoroughly sourced report provides an important and fair look into Musk's drug use and family conflicts. They interviewed a dozen people who have known or worked with him, and saw private text messages, legal documents and photographic evidence.
— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) May 31, 2025

This also isn’t the first time Musk has publicly denied accusations of drug abuse. In January 2024, The Wall Street Journal published a report stating Musk had used illegal drugs, including LSD, cocaine, mushrooms, ecstasy and ketamine — reportedly raising concerns among leaders at two of his companies.

Musk denied the Journal’s claims at the time and doubled down on his criticism Tuesday, mocking the outlet with a meme and daring both the Journal and the Times staff to take drug tests themselves.

The Wall Street Journal did not comment on Musk’s recent test results.

Musk previously prescribed ketamine

Musk has acknowledged being prescribed ketamine to treat depression in an interview from March 2024. The recent public feud is just the latest in a series of disputes between Trump-aligned figures and mainstream news outlets.

Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer) and Harry Fogle (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

[Karah Rucker]

ELON MUSK IS SHARING RESULTS FROM A RECENT DRUG TEST IN THE FACE OF ACCUSATIONS OF DRUG ABUSE – MOST RECENTLY IN A REPORT BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.

IT’S REIGNITED THE BROADER BATTLE BETWEEN TRUMP ALLIES AND THE MEDIA.

ELON MUSK POSTED DRUG TEST RESULTS TAKEN LAST WEEK –

SHOWING HE WAS NEGATIVE FOR NEARLY 2 DOZEN DRUGS TESTED –

INCLUDING COCAINE, KETAMINE, AND ECSTASY.

HE CAPTIONED THE RESULTS WITH “LOL” IN AN X POST EARLY TUESDAY MORNING.

THE NEW YORK TIMES’ PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT **RESPONDED TO MUSK’S POST.

SAYING HE “IS CONTINUING TO LASH OUT BECAUSE HE DOESN’T LIKE” THE TIMES REPORTING.

AND SAYS THE DRUG TEST DOESN’T CONTRADICT ITS REPORT –

ACCUSING MUSK OF DRUG USE WHILE ON THE 2024 CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

THE TIMES REPORTED IT FOUND MUSK “HAD ACTUALLY DEVELOPED A FAR MORE SERIOUS DRUG HABIT” –

REPORTING MUSK “USED KETAMINE OFTEN – SOMETIMES DAILY.”

“HE ALSO TOOK ECSTASY AND MUSHROOMS” ACCORDING TO THE TIMES.

TUESDAY’S TIT FOR TAT BETWEEN MUSK AND THE TIMES WASN’T THE FIRST TIME THE TWO WENT HEAD TO HEAD ON X OVER THE ARTICLE WRITE UP.

IT ALSO WASN’T THE FIRST TIME MUSK HAS DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST THE MEDIA OVER REPORTS OF ALLEGED DRUG ABUSE.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTED IN JANUARY 2024 “ELON MUSK HAS USED ILLEGAL DRUGS” WORRYING LEADERS AT TWO OF HIS LARGEST COMPANIES.

THE DRUGS THE JOURNAL REPORTED HE USED – INCLUDED LSD, COCAINE, ECSTASY, MUSHROOMS, AND KETAMINE.

MUSK DENIED THE JOURNAL’S CLAIMS AT THE TIME –

AND RENEWED HIS CRITICISM OF THE OUTLET AGAIN TUESDAY.

POSTING THIS PICTURE MOCKING THE NEWS GROUP.

AND THEN TROLLING BOTH NEWS OUTLETS –

DARING THEIR STAFF TO ALSO TAKE DRUG TESTS.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DID NOT COMMENT ABOUT MUSK’S DRUG TEST.

WHILE MUSK DENIES DRUG ABUSE –

OR USING DRUGS WHILE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL –

HE PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED TO BEING PRESCRIBED KETAMINE TO TREAT DEPRESSION.

THIS IS JUST THE LATEST BATTLE BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND TRUMP ALLIES –

AND LIKELY NOT THE LAST.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

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Why this story matters

The ongoing public dispute between Elon Musk and major news outlets over drug use allegations highlights tensions between high-profile figures and journalism, raising questions of credibility and transparency.

Musk and media relations

The repeated conflicts between Elon Musk and major news organizations such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal exemplify broader challenges in the relationship between influential business leaders and the press.

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Synthesized coverage insights across 88 media outlets

Behind the numbers

Musk’s drug test, administered on June 11, showed negative results for more than 20 substances, including ketamine, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and fentanyl. Drug detection via urine tests is limited, typically identifying substance use within 2-10 days prior to testing. For ketamine, urine tests may only detect use within the past 3-11 days, making them less effective for longer-term detection.

Quote bank

Notable quotes include Musk’s categorical denial: “I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off.” A Times spokesperson responded: “Elon Musk is continuing to lash out because he doesn’t like our reporting. Nothing that he’s said or presented since our article… contradicts what we uncovered. We stand by our journalism.”

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frame Elon Musk’s drug test amid allegations as part of an intense, chronic drug use narrative, emphasizing health impacts and portraying the Musk-Trump feud as a “messy falling out” filled with personal attacks, using loaded terms like “disgusting” and sarcastic quotes around “negative” to cast doubt.
Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right deploy rhetorical tactics that dismiss mainstream media as “woke” and accuse it of orchestrating a “hit piece” against Musk, employing informal, mocking language such as “lol” and “purported” to downplay allegations while highlighting financial fallout.

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Media landscape

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88 total sources

Key points from the Left

Elon Musk shared a negative drug test result on his X account, showing negative results for cocaine and ketamine, according to a report collected on June 11.
Musk previously admitted to ketamine use for depression but insisted he was clean in the face of recent allegations, stating, "I am NOT taking drugs!"
President Donald Trump labeled Musk a "big-time drug addict," amid their ongoing feud about Musk's behavior and drug use.

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Key points from the Center

Elon Musk shared a negative drug test image on X, denying claims of substance use.
The New York Times alleged Musk took drugs while advising President Trump, which Musk denied.
Trump said he was "not troubled" by anything involving Musk and his purported drug use.

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See Hide headlines from Center sources 15 sources

Key points from the Right

Elon Musk shared a negative drug test result showing no recent use of various substances, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy.
A report from The New York Times alleged Musk frequently used ketamine during the 2024 campaign, but Musk denied these claims, stating he previously only used ketamine for mental health issues.

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