As part of his America-First platform, President Donald Trump declared that prescription drug prices are set to experience a dramatic drop—by “500, 600, 800, even 1,200 percent,” according to his remarks. Trump emphasized his continued focus on easing financial burdens for American families rather than boosting the profits of multinational pharmaceutical firms, with a decisive blow against Big Pharma.
Trump revealed he had sent letters to executives at 17 leading pharmaceutical companies, urging them to reduce U.S. drug prices to align with the significantly lower costs seen in other nations—often around two-thirds less. He pledged that the reductions would surpass expectations. “Prices will go down to numbers that Americans have never even dreamed of before,” he said.
“This is something that nobody else can do,” Trump told supporters. “We’re gonna get the drug prices down. Not 30 or 40 percent, which would be great, not 50 or 60, no. We’re gonna get ‘em down 1,000 percent, 600 percent, 500 percent, 1,500 percent.”
The president issued a stark challenge to pharmaceutical manufacturers: bring U.S. drug costs in line with the lowest prices available globally or face robust government intervention. “If you refuse to step up,” Trump warned, “we’ll deploy every tool to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices.” He also took aim at international allies, accusing them of shifting the cost burden onto U.S. consumers. “Foreign nations have been freeloading for far too long,” Trump said, stressing that they should begin paying their fair share.
A deadline of September 29, 2025, has been set for compliance, with Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy prepared to take the lead in enforcement if companies fail to act. Trump reiterated the urgency of the issue, stating, “Americans are demanding lower drug prices,” and “they need them today.”
Townhall notes that central to Trump’s policy rollout is a new executive order establishing the “Most Favored Nations” drug pricing rule. Describing the measure as both bold and simple, Trump said it would prevent Americans from continuing to pay the highest prices for prescription medications. Under the policy, the U.S. would match the lowest drug price offered in any developed country, extending the same savings to American consumers that are enjoyed elsewhere. The administration characterized the move as a major step toward ending what it views as pharmaceutical price gouging and global cost shifting at the expense of U.S. patients.
