"Trump Suggests to Aides That Musk's Attacks May Be Drug-Influenced"... Rift Deepens

NYT Cites Close Associates
Possibility of Terminating Government Contracts Also Raised

There have been reports that U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, may have been under the influence of drugs during his recent attacks against Trump.

On June 6 (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that President Trump made such remarks in private conversations with close aides.

CNN also cited sources the same day, reporting that President Trump asked his staff whether they believed Musk's behavior over the past 48 hours was related to suspicions of drug use.

Previously, the NYT reported, citing people close to Musk, that Musk had frequently used drugs and stimulants such as ketamine and ecstasy during the last presidential election. Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic that has recently seen increased use as a prescription for treatment-resistant depression.

Musk denied the allegations, calling them "lies." He stated that he had stopped using ketamine after receiving a prescription to help improve his mental state.

However, after being briefed on the NYT article, President Trump reportedly raised the possibility that Musk's recent behavior may also have been influenced by such substances. This is the first time President Trump has publicly expressed such suspicions.

With President Trump now raising the issue of Musk's possible drug abuse, there are growing predictions that the already fractured relationship between the two could further deteriorate in a cycle of retaliation and counter-retaliation.

President Trump has already rejected Musk's attempts at reconciliation and has openly expressed his anger by directly mentioning the possibility of terminating government contracts with companies owned by Musk.

The NYT noted that President Trump could take retaliatory measures such as unilaterally canceling federal contracts with Musk's companies or revoking Musk's security clearances. The NYT also quoted experts who cautioned, "By any reasonable standard, federal departments and agencies should not be used for retaliation against political opponents. If Trump were to take such actions, it would be abnormal and inappropriate."

Musk also has means to retaliate. The Department of Defense and NASA already rely heavily on SpaceX, making unilateral contract termination difficult. While private companies such as Blue Origin and ULA are catching up, SpaceX's technological capabilities remain unrivaled to date, according to the NYT.

There is also analysis that the presence of SpaceX, a leader in aerospace technology, is essential for realizing President Trump's 'Golden Dome' initiative.