WH Reporter Asks John Kirby About Elon Musk and ‘Concerns About His Drug Use’

Elon Musk’s ties to the U.S. government are under scrutiny, with reporters asking whether his admitted drug use could compromise his Pentagon security clearance.

Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, have a range of government contracts that required Musk to have a DOD security clearance. Drug use is prohibited for anyone with a clearance, and Musk has spoken openly about using marijuana and ketamine.

Fox Business News senior correspondent Charles Gasparino tweeted Monday:

Wall Street execs w ties to Biden Admin say @elonmusk’s security clearance will get a review by @DeptofDefense after drug use allegations; If charges pan out Musk will likely receive probation on DOD security clearance. @FoxBusiness first reported in 2018 that Musk’s security clearance was under review following his pot smoking on Joe Rogan podcast more now @TeamCavuto DOD/Musk no immediate comment.

A reporter asked about the status of Musk’s security clearance Monday during an Air Force One press gaggle with White House spox John Kirby.

“There were some reports over the weekend about Elon Musk and some concerns about his drug use and the behavior that he’s been exhibiting,” the reporter said. “Some of his board members concerned, aware of that reporting, and is there, he has some contracts with the government, any reaction to it?”

“We wouldn’t comment on that,” Kirby said.

As Gasparino mentioned, this isn’t the first time Musk has been under review. In 2019, he resubmitted the SF-86 security clearance application after smoking marijuana during an on-air interview with Joe Rogan.

Business Insider reported, “Musk has gotten in hot water in the past for using drugs. In 2022, the billionaire said he and the ‘whole of SpaceX’ had to be drug tested for a year after he smoked weed on a 2018 podcast with Joe Rogan. And Tesla board members expressed concern when Musk told The New York Times in 2018 that he’d begun using Ambien to sleep.”

Listen to the audio clip above.