White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump has sent letters to 17 pharmaceutical company CEOs demanding immediate action to lower drug prices. In the letters, Trump warned that he would use “every tool” available to enforce reductions if companies failed to act within 60 days.
Reading from a letter addressed to Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks, Leavitt shared Trump’s strong language about ending “global freeloading.” Trump referenced an executive order he signed earlier in the year aimed at reducing drug prices and shifting benefits from foreign nations back to American patients and taxpayers.
The president’s demands include extending “most favored nation” pricing to Medicaid, applying it to newly launched drugs, repatriating overseas revenue, and enabling direct government purchasing at the lowest international prices. Trump insisted that his administration would no longer accept industry excuses or proposals that failed to deliver immediate relief to American families.
Trump’s May executive order sought to reduce prescription drug costs by 30% to 80%. It directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to set pricing benchmarks. However, Trump expressed frustration that subsequent negotiations with pharmaceutical companies failed to meet his expectations, accusing them of offering only self-serving policy changes.
Industry leaders pushed back, warning that aggressive pricing measures could harm research and development. PhRMA’s Alex Schriver said that importing foreign price controls would undermine American innovation and competitiveness, especially against rising threats from China in biopharmaceutical research.
Experts say Trump lacks the legal authority to enforce “most favored nation” pricing. Analysts noted he could attempt limited pricing trials via Medicare or Medicaid programs, but such efforts would likely face legal challenges. Trump’s strategy appears to focus on applying public pressure rather than relying on enforceable regulatory power to force compliance.
