'I hope not': Trump draws a line on Elon Musk bringing drugs into the White House
Reporters asked Trump if he was aware of Elon Musk using drugs in the White House. The president replied he didn't know but added, 'I hope not.'
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expressing his displeasure with the suggestion Elon Musk would bring drugs into the White House while leading the administration's initiative to slash government spending.
"I really don't know. I don't think so," the president told reporters on June 9. "I hope not."
Trump's comments are the most he's said on the topic of Musk's alleged use of recreational and medicinal drugs, which the New York Times reported about in late May, citing unnamed sources who described the billionaire using ketamine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms while campaigning with Trump in 2024.
The paper said it was unclear whether Musk took drugs while he was working for Trump at the White House, and both men sidestepped questions when asked about it on Musk's final day as a special government employee.
"Let’s move on," Musk said at the time.
Since then, the relationship between Trump and Musk has frayed as they openly fought over the president's tax bill. Trump suggested in one post that he could curb government contracts held by Musk's companies. Musk responded by suggesting Trump was named in classified files on financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking to reporters on June 9, Trump said he would not get rid of Musk's Starlink internet service at the White House and suggested that he doesn't plan to get rid of the Tesla he bought as the company's founder came under criticism for his role in DOGE.
"I don't think we'll be doing that with Starlink, it's a good service," Trump said.
As for the Tesla, the president said he "may move the Tesla around a little bit."
"I have a lot of locations," Trump said. "I have so many locations I don't know what to do with them all."
Trump also seemed to confirm an incident in which Musk reportedly fought with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent but said the two men did not come to blows. "They did have an argument, but I didn't see a lot of physicality there," Trump said.
Pressed to comment on Musk, Trump repeated himself that he had a "good relationship" with the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and X prior to their dispute. "I just wish him well. Very well actually," he said.