Donald Trump Once Called Elon Musk 'Big-Time Drug Addict'. Here's The Fallout Before Feud

Last Updated:June 08, 2025, 11:28 IST

Even before their public feud escalated, the relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk appeared to deteriorate over the latter's drug use and brute-force methods.

Elon Musk's drug use was reportedly a factor in his public feud with Donald Trump (AP Image)

US President Donald Trump’s tiff with tech billionaire Elon Musk sent shockwaves through political circles in the country, as the Tesla CEO shared a series of shocking social media posts accusing Trump of “ingratitude" and claiming he was mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

However, before the fallout escalated, Trump was still trying to make sense of Musk’s public attacks, dialling close confidants and casual acquaintances alike. At one point, Trump said Musk was “a big-time drug addict", a person with knowledge of the call told the Washington Post.

While Trump has publicly downplayed the feud saying that he had no intention of speaking to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, he reportedly asked aides and advisers if they believed Elon Musk’s actions were connected to his drug use.

Musk’s Drug Use

Although Trump has not publicly commented on his drug use, a recent report by the New York Times claimed that Musk had been “using drugs far more intensely than previously known," including mixing ketamine with other drugs, which reportedly affected his bladder.

White House officials said Trump’s concern about Musk’s drug use was a key factor in driving the two men apart. Cracks had already appeared in their relationship after Musk had alienated key members of the White House staff, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and quarrelled with Cabinet members.

White House officials were irritated with Musk’s brute-force tactics, lack of political experience and ideological differences with Trump’s MAGA base that eroded his relationship with Trump. The first signs of trouble came in February, when Musk’s DOGE sent an e-mail directing federal employees to describe their five accomplishments over the past week.

Musk Came To Blows With US Treasury Secretary

According to the Washington Post report, Musk aggressively “body-checked" Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the White House after being called a fraud, igniting a fiery clash that sparked his fallout with Trump as leaders grew disillusioned with his role.

This was the final straw in Musk’s contrasting positions to Trump’s economic policies – where he had called Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron" – as Bessent exchanged insults with the billionaire in the Oval Office and called him a “total fraud".

Bessent was referencing Musk’s claims of uncovering more than $1 trillion in wasteful and fraudulent government spending, which he had failed to do by the time he exited the department. In response to Bessent’s claims, Musk rammed his shoulder into the Secretary’s rib cage, and Bessent hit him back.

Several people stepped in to break up the chaotic fight as the two men reached the national security adviser’s office, and Musk was shuffled out of the West Wing. When Trump heard about the incident, he said, “This is too much", according to former White House official Steve Bannon. Trump also asked his aides and advisers if they believed Elon Musk’s actions were connected to his drug use.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world Donald Trump Once Called Elon Musk 'Big-Time Drug Addict'. Here's The Fallout Before Feud