Originally published June 22, 2023 2:08 pm PDT
Former President Donald J. Trump has unveiled part of his Agenda47 initiative, with a steadfast commitment to confronting Big Pharma and terminating what he terms as “global freeloading” on American consumers.
The President sharply criticized his successor, saying, “Crooked Joe Biden likes to pretend he stands up to Big Pharma—but in fact, I was the only President in modern times who EVER took on Big Pharma, and I took it head on. Biden canceled my tough-on-pharma policies the moment he had a chance.”
During his tenure, Trump is noted for instating significant reforms that brought about a reduction in drug prices for the first time in 51 years, halted costly kickbacks, and cemented the Most Favored Nation Rule, a press release detailed.
This rule stipulated that pharmaceutical companies must offer the United States the same discounts as they extend to other nations.
These measures were projected to save an estimated $85 billion over seven years.
President Trump promised a robust response, stating that “On Day One, [he] will sign an Executive Order to end global freeloading on American consumers once and for all.”
He outlined his strategy, saying, “Under my policy, the United States government will tell Big Pharma that we will only pay the best price they offer to foreign nations, who have been taking advantage of us for so long— the United States is tired of getting ripped off.”
His administration had previously implemented an Executive Order declaring that the U.S. would pay the same price for pharmaceuticals as other foreign countries.
President Trump claimed, “This would have saved American patients billions and billions of dollars.”
However, the order was rescinded by President Biden, a move Trump describes as “stabbing Patients and U.S. citizens and especially our Seniors right in the back.”
Trump took a hard stance on the discrepancy in drug pricing between the United States and other nations, saying, “For many years, Americans have been paying among the highest prices in the world for our prescription drugs, while other countries negotiate sweetheart deals off the backs of America, paying vastly lower prices for the very same drugs from the very same companies.”
“This amounts to a gigantic subsidy of foreign socialist welfare systems courtesy of YOU and the American people,” he continued.
Reiterating his determination, Trump concluded, “We’ve been ripped off my everybody for so many decades. We are tired of it. Not going to happen. They should have never rescinded my original Executive Order. It just shows you the power of Big Pharma. But this will force Big Pharma to RAISE prices on foreign countries and REDUCE prices very substantially for American Patients. It will deliver huge savings for seniors, and for all American Patients.”
With these statements, President Trump has outlined a significant shift in the United States’ pharmaceutical policy, pledging to prioritize American consumers and protect them from the perceived exploitation of Big Pharma.
