Trump Claims He Has Reduced Drug Prices by 1500%, but U.S. Media Calls the Statement Mathematically Impossible

U.S. President Donald Trump recently made headlines with a bold claim that he has slashed prescription drug prices by as much as 1500%. However, multiple U.S. media outlets, including Newsweek and the Associated Press (AP), have criticized the statement as mathematically impossible and an exaggeration.

During a recent interview, Trump stated that the government has reduced the prices of some prescription drugs by 1200%, 1300%, 1400%, and even 1500%.

“You know, we have reduced drug prices by 1200%, 1300%, 1400%, 1500%. I’m not talking about 50%, I’m talking about 1400%, 1500%,” he said. This has sparked confusion among experts and the public, as reducing a price by 100% means the product is free, and reducing it by more than 100% implies that the manufacturer would be paying consumers for the drug.

A Repeated Pattern of Exaggeration

Such statements are not new for Trump. Earlier this year, he claimed that he would reduce drug prices by 1000%, 600%, 500%, and even 1500% during a speech to Republican allies at the White House. This has raised concerns about the accuracy of his statements and the effectiveness of his policies.

According to MSNBC, Trump has previously spoken about the issue of high drug prices, but his efforts have not yielded significant results. In fact, his recent executive order on lowering drug prices has been criticized for lacking real impact.

Critics Question the Logic

Media outlets have pointed out that Trump's claims are not only mathematically flawed but also potentially misleading. The New Republic magazine noted that U.S. prescription drug prices are nearly three times higher than those in other parts of the world. However, instead of addressing the issue with factual data, Trump has resorted to exaggerated statistics.

“This statement is indeed embarrassing,” MSNBC reported, highlighting the gap between Trump's confidence in his calculations and the actual economic impact of his policies. The network also noted that Trump's approach to trade policy and tariffs has often been based on his own “mental formulas,” which may not reflect reality.

As the debate over drug pricing continues, the focus remains on whether Trump’s rhetoric aligns with the tangible outcomes of his policies or if these statements are simply a form of political exaggeration.