FLASHBACK: Musk Told Don Lemon About Using Ketamine in Testy Interview About His ‘Depression’
Elon Musk acknowledged using ketamine to treat depression in a testy 2024 interview with Don Lemon — a moment now resurfacing after former President Donald Trump reportedly told allies Musk is a “big-time drug addict.”
Following The Washington Post’s Saturday report that Trump had been calling confidantes to make the accusation, Lemon responded via TikTok, saying he went “straight to the source” and re-shared footage from his contentious sit-down with Musk in April 2024.
In the clip, Musk told Lemon that he uses ketamine “a small amount once every other week” with a prescription from “an actual, real doctor.”
@donlemon I asked Elon Musk directly about his drug use during an interview last year #donaldtrump #elonmusk ♬ original sound – Don Lemon
“There are times when I have sort of a negative chemical state in my brain — like depression, I guess,” Musk said in the interview. “Or depression that’s not linked to any negative news — and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of that negative frame of mind.”
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also insisted he is “almost always” sober during his late-night and early-morning posting sessions on his social media platform X.
Musk also pushed back when Lemon pressed further, appearing annoyed by “personal” questions about his health, and the ketamine use in particular.
The resurfaced interview follows days of escalating tension between Musk and Trump. Once close allies, the two billionaires have publicly clashed in recent days, culminating in the breakdown of their relationship.
According to The New York Times, the final straw came when Trump learned Musk’s preferred NASA nominee had donated to Democrats. The private falling-out soon became a public feud, with Trump appearing to question Musk’s mental state during multiple media appearances.
In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said, I think Elon, really, I think it’s a shame that he’s so depressed and so heartbroken.”
He also made veiled references to Musk’s alleged drug use in a Fox News interview earlier in the week, saying, “The poor guy’s got a problem.”
