Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lauded President Donald Trump on Thursday for signing a landmark executive order aimed at slashing the cost of prescription drugs, calling it a historic moment in U.S. healthcare policy. Kennedy, a longtime Democrat, said it was “an extraordinary day” and praised Trump as the first president with the courage to defy Big Pharma’s grip on Washington.
“This is an issue that every major Democratic leader has promised to fix for 20 years, and none of them did,” Kennedy said. He pointed out that even Bernie Sanders made lowering drug prices a centerpiece of his presidential campaigns but failed to act. “Turns out, none of them were doing it. This was one of those promises politicians make, knowing they’ll never have to follow through.”
Kennedy cited the overwhelming influence of pharmaceutical lobbyists in Congress and the courts, claiming there is “at least one pharmaceutical lobbyist for every congressman, every senator, and every member of the Supreme Court—some say as many as three.”
He said the issue was “radioactive” in Washington, with most lawmakers too fearful to challenge the pharmaceutical industry. “We now have a president who is a man of his word, who has the courage,” Kennedy said, adding that even though Trump received campaign donations from pharmaceutical companies, “he can’t be bought, unlike most of the politicians in this country.”
Kennedy flatly rejected claims that Trump is aligned with oligarchs, stating, “There has never been a president more willing to stand up to the oligarchs than President Donald Trump. And I’m very, very proud of you, Mr. President, for your courage.”
He also highlighted how the executive order would pressure European countries to pay more of their share for drug innovation, rather than relying on the U.S. to subsidize global pharmaceutical development. “President Trump is saying… pay for your share of the innovation that the United States is no longer subsidizing.”
The moment was deeply personal for Kennedy, who noted that even his own children—loyal Sanders supporters—were moved by the news. “When I told them this was going to happen, they had tears in their eyes… We finally have a president who’s willing to stand up for the American people.”
