July 4, 2025: In a striking revelation that adds fuel to the already simmering feud between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, journalist and author Michael Wolff has claimed that Trump may have been the source behind a bombshell New York Times report on Musk’s alleged drug use.
Speaking in an interview with The Daily Beast, Wolff—who has extensively chronicled Trump’s inner circle over the years—asserted that Trump not only talked about Musk’s alleged drug habits in private conversations but also took credit for tipping off the New York Times.
Trump’s Alleged Comments
Wolff said he was tracking Trump’s calls one evening when Musk’s name came up repeatedly. “In one of these phone calls—many of them—he was on about how many drugs [Musk] takes,” Wolff stated.
According to Wolff, Trump allegedly said:
“He takes drugs all the time. You know that, don’t you? You know, The New York Times wrote about it. They said he takes drugs.”
More controversially, Trump reportedly added:
“Actually, we dropped a dime to The New York Times… on Elon’s drug taking.”
While Wolff noted that it remains unclear whether Trump was genuinely the source or was simply taking credit after the fact, the implication has sparked fresh debate and speculation.
Background on the NYT Report
The New York Times in May reported that Musk had used substances such as ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms, and that he frequently traveled with a pill box. The article raised concerns about Musk’s health and leadership responsibilities, especially amid his involvement in multiple high-profile ventures including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter).
At the time, Musk vehemently denied the allegations, calling the NYT report false.
“To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off,” Musk posted on X.
Political and Media Ramifications
If Wolff’s claims are accurate, they could have serious implications for both Trump and Musk—two of the most influential and polarizing figures in the U.S. today. Their relationship has seen several public highs and lows, but recent months have been marked by increasingly hostile exchanges.
Wolff’s comments also highlight Trump’s continued influence in shaping narratives behind the scenes. The idea that a former president could orchestrate—or claim to orchestrate—damaging leaks to major publications about a tech titan raises fresh concerns about the intersection of politics, media, and personal vendettas.
Looking Ahead
As neither Trump nor Musk has directly responded to Wolff’s claims as of now, the story is likely to remain in the headlines. With Trump eyeing a possible political comeback and Musk continuing to dominate global headlines in business and technology, the fallout from this revelation may just be getting started.