President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he will sign an executive order to slash the cost of prescription drugs in the United States by 30% to 80%, describing it as one of the most significant health care reforms in American history.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained the rationale behind the move, arguing that Americans have been forced for decades to pay dramatically higher prices for the exact same medications manufactured overseas. “Sometimes they are five to ten times more expensive than the same drug, manufactured in the exact same laboratory or plant, by the same company,” he wrote.
The executive order, which will be signed Monday at 9:00 A.M. at the White House, implements a “Most Favored Nation” pricing policy. Under this model, the U.S. will pay no more for a drug than the lowest price paid by any other country in the world.
Targeting Big Pharma’s Grip
Trump slammed the pharmaceutical industry and past administrations for allowing what he called “price gouging by global corporations”. He accused Big Pharma of using the excuse of research and development costs while effectively passing the burden exclusively onto Americans — a situation he said was made worse by “campaign contributions” that ensured political protection for drug companies.
“Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party,” Trump wrote. “We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years.”
Despite Democratic talking points over the years criticizing Big Pharma, Trump argued it’s the GOP that is delivering real results — framing the move as both a consumer protection win and a political blow to Democrats who failed to act when they had the chance.
Immediate Impact
Trump claimed the order would take effect “almost immediately” and would lead to a global price adjustment, with international costs rising to match what Americans have been forced to pay for decades.
A White House fact sheet confirmed the executive order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to move quickly to implement the pricing reforms and authorize states to import lower-cost medications — particularly from countries like Canada, where prices are significantly cheaper.
The order also expands discounts for low-income Americans, especially for life-saving drugs like insulin, and provides mechanisms for states to launch their own bulk-buying and reimportation programs — moves projected to save millions.
Critics Already Nervous
Democratic lawmakers have yet to offer a coordinated response, though some in the pharmaceutical industry have hinted that legal challenges could be coming.
A spokesperson for PhRMA, the leading pharmaceutical lobbying group, claimed the order would “threaten innovation” — a common refrain used when pricing reform threatens corporate margins. But the Trump administration has dismissed these concerns, arguing that companies can no longer expect American taxpayers to subsidize global profits.
A Shift in Global Pricing
Trump’s approach not only seeks fairness at home but also aims to reset the global pharmaceutical market, which has relied for years on U.S. patients to make up for price caps in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere.
“Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%,” Trump promised. “Our country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens’ healthcare costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before.”
Looking Ahead
The announcement comes as Trump pushes his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, which has included partnerships with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Surgeon General nominee Dr. Casey Means. Both have championed holistic health care reforms, focusing not just on treatment but also on prevention and cost transparency.
In contrast to bureaucratic inertia and endless hearings in Congress, Trump is banking on executive action to deliver results — and potentially turn around his sagging poll numbers, which have taken a hit over concerns about inflation and health costs.
With drug prices now directly in the administration’s crosshairs, Trump is betting that pocketbook relief — and a fight with Big Pharma — will resonate with voters.
Whether or not lawsuits stall parts of the order, Trump’s message is clear: “We will no longer be the world’s suckers. American patients come first.”
