By Gloria Ogbonna
During remarks to Republican lawmakers on Monday, Donald Trump said his administration has taken bold steps that previous presidents were unwilling or unable to pursue, particularly when it comes to lowering prescription drug prices for Americans.
Speaking at the Republican Members Issues Conference in Florida, Trump addressed members of Congress about his policy initiatives and negotiations with foreign leaders and pharmaceutical companies. While outlining his efforts, he declared that his approach to international negotiations and domestic reforms has produced results that he believes would have been impossible under previous administrations.
Trump told lawmakers that his willingness to push aggressively for policy changes has allowed him to secure agreements that could significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs in the United States.
“I don’t want to brag,” Trump said during the speech, “but they’ve said this about a lot of things — no other president could do some of the things I’m doing.”
The president specifically highlighted his administration’s implementation of “most favored nation” (MFN) agreements with major pharmaceutical companies. The policy aims to ensure that Americans pay prices for certain medications that are comparable to what other developed countries pay, instead of significantly higher prices that have long been common in the U.S.
Trump argued that the MFN policy would help correct what he described as an unfair system in which American consumers often subsidize lower drug prices in other parts of the world.
During his speech, Trump recounted a conversation he said he had with Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, as part of negotiations intended to encourage other countries to shoulder more of the global cost of pharmaceuticals.
According to Trump, he warned Macron that the United States could impose steep tariffs on French goods if European nations did not adjust their pricing structures.
“I said, ‘Here’s the story,’” Trump recalled telling Macron. “If you don’t do it, I’m going to put, in the case of Emmanuel, a 100 percent tariff on all wines and champagnes coming into the United States.”
Trump added that when Macron initially objected to the proposal, he emphasized that he was prepared to act immediately.
“I told him I already had the document sitting on my desk,” Trump said, suggesting that the tariff plan was ready to be implemented if negotiations failed.
According to Trump, the pressure ultimately worked, and Macron agreed to the arrangement. Trump said similar discussions were held with other world leaders, which he believes helped pave the way for broader agreements aimed at balancing pharmaceutical costs internationally.
“I got every country to agree,” Trump told the audience, emphasizing what he described as the success of his negotiating strategy.
Beyond discussions with foreign governments, the administration also negotiated directly with major pharmaceutical companies. Between late September and the end of December, the White House announced MFN-style agreements with 14 leading drug manufacturers.
Among the companies involved were Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi.
The administration said the agreements were designed to help lower costs on widely used medications, particularly drugs that have historically been far more expensive in the United States than in other countries.
To further promote the policy, the administration launched a website called TrumpRx in February. The platform allows Americans to access coupons and discount programs for a range of prescription medications.
According to the administration, some of the discounts are significant. For example, coupons available through the program can reduce the monthly price of popular medications produced by Novo Nordisk, including the weight-loss drug Wegovy and the diabetes medication Ozempic.
Under the program, the price of Wegovy — which can average around $1,350 per month — could drop to approximately $350 with a coupon. Ozempic, which typically costs about $1,000 per month, could also be reduced to a similar price point.
During his remarks, Trump urged Republican lawmakers to move quickly to turn his MFN drug pricing policy into permanent law. He argued that codifying the agreements through legislation would ensure long-term savings for American patients.
“I’m also asking you to take swift action to codify my most-favored-nation policy on drug prices,” Trump told the audience.
He added that the measure could become a major political victory for Republicans if it leads to noticeable savings for voters.
“That alone should win the midterms,” Trump said, suggesting that lower prescription drug prices could resonate strongly with Americans concerned about rising healthcare costs.
Trump concluded by emphasizing that his administration’s willingness to confront both foreign governments and powerful pharmaceutical companies is what made the agreements possible.
According to him, that kind of aggressive negotiation style is what allowed his administration to push forward policies that previous leaders had avoided.
Source Breitbart
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