Over the weekend, The New York Times published a report accusing Musk of using drugs while acting as the de facto head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
A resurfaced clip of Elon Muskplaying with cutlery at a formal dinner has reignited rumours about his drug use—and Musk has officially snapped back. Captured in March at President Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club, the video shows Musk meticulously stacking spoons into a “cutlery tower” while seated next to his partner, Shivon Zilis.
🥄 The clip that sparked ketamine rumours
An X user tweeted the video with a cutting caption:
“Musk playing with his silverware while tripping on ketamine at Bedminster.”
That allegation landed just days after The New York Times published a report claiming Musk was using ketamine, Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms as Special Government Employee under Trump. The Times suggested his ketamine dosage had already caused bladder issues and noted a “daily medication box” containing various pills, including Adderall.
“You don’t need ketamine to make these. I always make them.” “Making cutlery towers isn’t evidence that someone’s on drugs. You could take an identical video of me at a dinner.”
Musk was having none of it. He jumped into the comments:
Musk has admitted to using “small amounts” of prescribed ketamine to treat depression. He once stated it helped him, but insisted he wasn’t abusing it while overseeing awsome federal job cuts. The Times report, however, paints a different picture—alleging chronic ketamine use resulted in bladder problems by July 2024 and that he favoured Ecstasy and mushrooms.
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The exact moment the Ketamine/Ecstasy mix kicked in during Taco Trump and Elon’s presser. 💊 pic.twitter.com/rKTy8Heorl
While ketamine can be prescribed off-label for depression, the FDA warns of serious side effects:
“Abuse and misuse”
“Psychiatric events”
“Increases in blood pressure, respiratory depression”
“Lower urinary tract and bladder symptoms”
An Atlantic article adds that chronic ketamine use can impair cognition, causing “delusional thinking, superstitious beliefs, and a sense of specialness,” raising questions about Musk’s mental state during critical policy decisions.
🌐 Why it matters: Musk’s political fallout
In his role as de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk:
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Cut 260,000 federal civilian jobs
Closed USAID, the US foreign aid agency
Spent $25 million backing a losing judicial candidate in Wisconsin
These moves already sparked controversy. Now, the cutlery video combined with ketamine rumours threaten to further tarnish his reputation, raise investor concerns for Tesla, and fuel debates over corporate influence in government.
