A show of many contrasts – that's the best way to describe Elon Musk's recent appearance at the White House, where the billionaire appeared with a black eye and an explanation that... raises more questions than it answers.

"We were playing around. I said, 'Shoot me in the face.' And he did," Musk said with a laugh, referring to his 5-year-old son, X, during a press conference marking his departure from Donald Trump's administration.

At his side, Trump interjected with a joke: "If you knew X, you would believe him. He would do it."

Musk added that he didn't feel the pain at the time, but the bruise appeared later. And when was he first asked about the black eye? In his characteristic style, he dismissed it with a joke involving France and viral theories linking the wound to Brigitte Macron.

But the internet wasn't convinced. On the X platform (ironically), users began to spread numerous theories – from the "perfect left punch" version to speculation about a more serious incident behind the scenes.

Musk's outburst came just hours after The New York Times published a report raising serious concerns about his use of ketamine — beyond medically prescribed doses. Asked about the article at the conference, Musk evaded answering, attacking the media directly:

"The New York Times? It's the same one that won the Pulitzer for a hoax. Yes, it is!" he declared, without elaborating on the allegations.

The conference also marked the end of Musk's tenure as a "special government employee," where for four months he led an initiative to cut federal spending - a task that fell short of the promised $1 trillion goals, but which gave him major influence over important appointments at NASA and the Air Force.

Despite his recent thaw in relations with Trump, the president publicly praised Musk, presenting him with a "golden key" with the White House crest and calling him "one of the greatest leaders of modern times."

Musk is stepping back from the political scene due to the 130-day legal limit on interim roles, but disagreements with Trump's tariffs and fiscal policies hint at more tension beneath the surface.

The bottom line? A black eye, drug charges, conspiracy theories, and a golden key in his pocket – Musk may have left Washington, but he seems to have stepped deeper into the vortex of public drama. And the internet, of course, is doing its job.

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_{Source: Economic Times}