Americans Are Sharing What They Really Think About Elon's Alleged Drug Use And The Fact That Trump Is "Not Troubled"
In response to recent reporting about Elon Musk's alleged drug use while serving in a high-level government role, Americans across the country are weighing in with their thoughts on both the allegations and the Trump administration's seeming indifference to them.
The controversy stems from a New York Times report that emerged just days after Musk officially left his advisory role to President Trump. According to the reporting, which cited private messages and interviews with Musk's associates, the tech billionaire allegedly consumed various drugs — including ketamine, Ecstasy, psychedelic mushrooms, Ambien, and Adderall — during his time as a fixture on the campaign trail and while holding significant government responsibilities.
What has particularly concerned critics is that Musk had access to highly sensitive government data during this period. When asked about concerns regarding Musk's alleged drug use, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller deflected the question without denying the allegations, instead pivoting to discuss border security issues.
When asked by a reporter if Elon's alleged drug use troubled him, Trump responded, "I'm not troubled by anything with Elon. I think he's fantastic. Did a great job. And, you know, DOGE continues. And by the time he's finished, we'll have numbers that'll knock your socks off."
In the wake of all this, Americans' reactions reveal deep divisions about accountability, security clearances, and the standards expected of those with access to sensitive government information:
1."Elon Musk's reported descent into drug-fueled governance is not just a cautionary tale; it's a requiem for the dignity of public service. That a man allegedly high on ketamine and Adderall, mocking Social Security and dancing with a chainsaw, was given the power to gut our institutions is not absurdity; it is tragedy. And Trump's reply, 'I'm not troubled by anything with Elon,' is the sound of a republic forgetting its soul. The drugs are not the scandal. The scandal is a government so hollowed out that it cannot distinguish between a visionary and a vandal, so numb that it cheers the wreckage and calls it reform. In quieter times, we will look back. And we will wonder how a democracy, built on law and service, became a playground for the powerful, a stage for the unwell, and how so few stood to say: This is not leadership. It is the moment a nation stopped recognizing its own reflection."
—Miles West
"Spot-on comment! The US has, indeed, forgotten what it is supposed to represent. We handed the republic to a bunch of billionaires who have damaged the nation in ways that will take years of analysis. If ANY Democrat acted in any manner like Trump or Musk, the right would lose what little of its mind it has left."
—Doug MacKenzie
2."Meanwhile...we regular 'ol folks are subjected to drug testing and harsher vetting processes for much more 'menial jobs' than overseeing a major government department."
—thisisnothappening
3."So I guess they were talking about him specifically when they were going on about the massive amount of drugs immigrants are bringing into the country?"
—dandelano
4."Of course, Republicans would never make a big deal out of purported drug use by a public figure...or his son. But, but, but, but Hunter!"
—Archie D. Bunker
5."How did we come to this? Because, by and large, the media has been taken over by oligarchs who control the narrative. Mass media has been slowly contracting, and people get their 'news' served up by algorithms — and they're perfectly content to accept that state of affairs. 'Liberal media' doesn't exist but for a few outlets, such as HuffPost. Most normalized Trump within a year of Jan. 6. This has been a 45-year arc going back to Reagan. The ultra-conservatives played the long game, and here we are."
—N D
Related: This FSU Student Had A Scathing Message For Donald Trump, And It's Going Mega Viral
6."Whether this is true or not, Trump will play this card now — blaming all the bad crap that happened on Musk as he leaves. Go figure."
—Jodi Mikkelsen
7."I think our collective socks will remain firmly secured. The numbers already show that government spending went up even with the firings."
—Cathi M
8."Ketamine and Adderall are legal. Millions of people are using those or others, and probably a lot of people who are not using them should ask their doctor about that. If taking those would make me anywhere near equal to Musk, I would be making an appointment with my doctor ASAP. I have been quite successful without that assistance, but I couldn't catch up to him in 13 lifetimes."
—icyhouse933
9."DOGE is a bad joke. It will end up costing us more than it saved between the firing of IRS auditors and the farmer bailout in the Big Beautiful Bamboozle Bill, required after the disastrous cuts to USAID. Apart from Musk's data grab, the real purpose of DOGE has been to hollow out government to the point where it's so ineffective that voters expect nothing."
—Tyrone Slothrop
10."In our weird political system, in these weird times, Trump's comments about Elon after the report are a point for the Trump gang, as seen by them. It says they are above all controls; no one can stop them or criticize them. And that is how they got elected — by people who, I suppose, want the chaos that is killing our democracy."
—Cold Mountain
Related: "There's No More Hiding Their Ideology" — People Cannot Believe This "Terrifying" Post By Trump Is Real
11."OK, let's name names. Who exactly are these people that came forward to smear Elon? Liberal media only gets by on 'unnamed sources.' Like The Washington Post, citing a study where it claimed 300,000 people have died due to USAID cuts — this story will be debunked too."
—StopTheLeftwingMadness
[Editor's Note: The 300,000 death figure comes from Boston University modeling projections, not confirmed deaths. While multiple outlets including The Washington Post have reported on this research, the numbers represent estimated potential mortality impacts from USAID cuts rather than verified casualties, and remain subject to debate among experts.]
12."Blue cities all over are decriminalizing these drugs, and they're being used regularly for therapeutic purposes, but Democrat smear media are pretending to be outraged by Musk. The report can't even be bothered to tell you under what context he was allegedly taking the drugs, and instead just says 'regularly' and insinuates — with no evidence — that he was under the influence while speaking or working."
—Pouncing Cat
13."Where's the concern from Republicans? It's so funny that they were concerned about Hunter Biden's drug addiction when Hunter never did anything in our government, nor did he destroy parts of it. They were so concerned about President Joe Biden's age, but they couldn't care less that Trump is the oldest guy ever elected."
—Vickie Lechuga
14."I don't believe any of this about Elon using drugs. He always seems together and knowledgeable when interviewed or talked to. This is all about the Democrats trying to destroy him because he's destroying their gravy trains of money within the government."
—Katrina Hill
15."It is not shocking. This whole chapter of government is unhinged. None are qualified for office — and I am not talking about the easy-to-pass cognitive way."
—oatsy
16."What difference does it make? There are no laws for rich white men."
—braveelephant411
17."Weren't these the guys prattling on about how worried they were about Biden's capacity? And you let Elon have unrestricted access to the government and power to make decisions? The hypocrisy of these people continues to astound me."
—lawyerlady1
18."I have no problem with drug use but have a big problem with hypocrisy."
—izzy______
"I do have a problem with drug use if it negatively affects people's ability to do a critical job. Do what you want in your free time — get drunk, get high, I don't care — but when you're at work, and particularly if it affects people's safety and/or you have to make important decisions, you don't take anything that negatively affects your ability to do your job. Hypocrisy is, of course, despicable as well."
—annikakremer
19."This whole administration is just a walking banner of 'rich white men can do and say whatever they want with absolutely zero consequences.' It's something many of us have known for a long time, but it also seemed like we had made some strides away from that. However, it now seems that we've moved absolutely backward to...I don't even know what time!"
—mosevaletservice
20."Outright stating that they don't care about drug use unless it's tied to their pre-existing immigration narrative...unsurprising to me, but I hope that anyone who IS surprised is spurred to do more research and make meaningful action in their electoral and local political choices!"
—marvelousknight2386
Ultimately, these reactions — ranging from outrage to skepticism to nuanced analysis — reflect deeper American anxieties about accountability in government, the application of different standards to the wealthy and powerful, and fundamental questions about who should have access to sensitive national security information. Whether focused on workplace double standards, political hypocrisy, or systemic corruption, the comments reveal a country grappling with what many see as a breakdown in traditional governance norms and the institutions meant to uphold them.
As the story continues to develop, these diverse perspectives highlight the challenges facing American democracy when public trust in institutions is low and different segments of society operate under seemingly different sets of rules.
What do you make of everything? Let us know in the comments below.
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