Elon Musk Releases Drug Tests on X, Response to New York Times

Elon Musk has done what probably no billionaire CEO has ever done… He has published his drug test results on X. A June 11 document shows negative results for opiates, ketamine, ecstasy, and other substances. All accompanied by a laconic “ lol .” In true Musk style, one might say.

lol pic.twitter.com/pMe3YfXFxS

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2025

Elon Musk Responds to New York Times Accusations

Behind this gesture is a media battle that has been going on for months. On May 30, the New York Times published an explosive investigation, claiming that during Trump's presidential campaign, Musk had significantly increased the use of drugs , particularly ketamine .

The article didn’t stop there. It talked about ecstasy , magic mushrooms , and a daily pillbox with nearly two dozen pills, including Adderall , a powerful ADHD stimulant. The paper also accused SpaceX of giving its CEO a special treatment, warning him in advance of mandatory drug screening for government employees.

Others have also suspected Musk of drug use in the past. Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported his regular use of LSD , ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and psilocybin mushrooms. These substances have reportedly raised concerns among executives at Musk's companies.

The billionaire has always denied everything, calling the accusations “ fake news .” He only admitted to having tried ketamine in a therapeutic context, but has always dismissed the rest of the accusations as lies.

The New York Times Doesn't Give In

The publication of the tests on X does not convince the New York Times. The newspaper maintained its position, stressing that traces of drugs in urine disappear within a few days. In essence, a test on June 11 would not prove anything about possible consumption during the presidential campaign.

“ Elon Musk continues to get angry because he doesn’t like our reporting,” the NYT responded to X. “Nothing he has said or presented since our reporting was published contradicts what we’ve found. We stand by our journalistic position. ”

Musk uses his platform to defend himself directly, without filters or intermediaries. An approach that can be effective but also risky. On the one hand, it shows transparency. But why publish a test from June to respond to accusations about events from months earlier?