Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to drastically reduce the cost of prescription drugs in the United States.
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump described his upcoming announcement as “one of the most important and impactful” of his career and promised to sign what he called a “historic” executive order that, he claims, will slash drug prices by 30–80%.
For years, the world has asked why prescription drugs in the U.S. cost five to ten times more than in other countries, even though they’re made by the same companies in the same laboratories. Tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the White House, I will sign one of the most consequential executive orders in U.S. history. Americans will finally get fairness, Trump stated.
He clarified that he aims to implement a rule ensuring that drug prices in the U.S. do not exceed those of the same medications in other countries.
If a drug costs one dollar elsewhere, it should cost the same in America, he said.
However, it remains unclear how exactly this initiative will be implemented.
Unlike many developed nations, the U.S. does not have a centralized system for regulating drug prices. It’s also uncertain whether the order will apply solely to medications covered by the Medicare program or extend more broadly—potentially leading to legal challenges and pushback from pharmaceutical companies.
Trump claims the new policy could save the U.S. healthcare system “trillions of dollars” and put an end to what he calls an “unfair” system of international drug pricing.
