Trump’s mind is mush.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) May 12, 2025
Trump claimed both medicines were exactly the same. “It’s the same box, made in the same plant, by the same company,” he said. “It’s the identical pill that I buy in New York, and here I’m paying $88 in London. In New York, I’m paying $1,300.”
Based on that, Trump announced a new executive order. It’s called the “most-favored nation” policy. This would force drug companies to sell medications in the U.S. for the same price they sell them in other rich countries — like the UK, Germany, or Canada — where the governments negotiate better deals.
Trump argued that America pays too much and other countries should help cover research costs. “Other countries should pay for research and development too. It’s for their benefit,” he said. “For the first time in many years, we’ll slash the cost of prescription drugs and bring fairness to America.”
He even claimed prices could drop by as much as 80 percent.
But Trump didn’t stop there. He also threatened countries that didn’t follow his plan. He said he might block their products from entering the U.S. “If they want to get cute, then they don’t have to sell cars into the United States anymore,” he warned.
Trump also ordered the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate countries that pay less for drugs. He said these countries force companies to accept low prices, which makes Americans pay more. He also told Health and Human Services (HHS) to create pricing targets and force companies to lower prices or face punishment.
However, while Trump made significant threats, his explanation was hard to follow. His long story about his “fat friend” left many people confused. It sounded more like a strange joke than a serious health plan. And honestly, most people wouldn’t talk about a friend that way in public.
The real issue here isn’t what one man in London paid for a drug. The problem is that the U.S. healthcare system doesn’t negotiate prices like other countries. Nations like the UK have single-payer systems where the government can bargain directly with drug companies. In the U.S., we rely on private companies, which often pay higher prices.
Trump’s plan tries to copy this approach but doesn’t explain how it would legally work. Even the White House admitted that it was unclear what law would give Trump the power to enforce these changes.
Featured image via Screengrab
