Donald Trump made headlines on Monday (May 12) after calling out a “neurotic” businessman for using a weight-loss injection, referring to it as a “fat shot drug,” during a speech unveiling his latest plan to reduce prescription drug prices.
Speaking from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, the former president announced a sweeping proposal that could slash the cost of medications by up to 80 percent. The plan includes the introduction of price controls, increased export restrictions, and heightened tariffs on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Trump claimed his motivation stemmed from a conversation with a friend, who mentioned how inexpensive weight-loss drugs are in the UK. However, it wasn’t just the policy details that drew attention—it was Trump’s scathing and personal anecdote, in which he mocked the unnamed businessman for both his weight and reliance on the drug.
While the focus of the event was intended to be on lowering drug prices, Trump’s remarks quickly ignited a firestorm online, with many reacting to his blunt and controversial comments.
Trump said there would be punishments for countries that don’t cut the costs (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“A friend of mine—he’s a businessman, a very top guy, highly successful. Most of you would probably know who he is,” Trump began. “He’s brilliant, very neurotic, and seriously overweight. And he takes what people are calling the ‘fat shot drug.’”
“He called me the other day—he used to call me ‘Donald,’ now he calls me ‘President,’ which I appreciate. He’s a tough guy, very smart, very rich,” Trump continued. “He said, ‘President, I’m in London, and I just paid $88 for this fat drug I take. In New York, I pay $1,300. What the hell is going on?’ I told him, ‘It’s not working if you’re still calling it the fat drug!’”
Trump said the drastic price difference led him to confront a pharmaceutical executive, accusing the industry of overcharging Americans for years.
“I found out the reason we pay more is because of so-called research and development costs,” he said. “But why shouldn’t other countries help pay for that too? They benefit from the same drugs. For the first time in many years, we’re going to slash prescription drug prices and bring fairness back to America.”
He signed an executive order to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for US consumers by 80 percent (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
To this end, he signed an executive order that demands drug manufacturers charge US citizens the same price for drugs as the lowest-paying developed countries – or face punishment.
The Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative have also been drafted in to investigate foreign countries ‘that extort drug companies by blocking their products unless they accept the bottom line and very low dollar amounts for their product,’ Trump continued.
The president is spending four days in the Middle East where it is expected he will receive an unprecedented gift (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
He criticized what he described as a “discriminatory” practice that has been “unfairly shifting the cost burden onto American patients.” In trademark Trump fashion, he threatened sweeping tariffs, stating he would halt U.S. imports of non-pharmaceutical goods from countries that refuse to raise their drug prices — specifically calling out European Union nations.
“The biggest thing we’re going to do is tell those countries, like those in the European Union, that the game is over. Sorry,” he declared.
“And if they want to get cute, then they can forget about selling cars into the United States,” he added.
His remarks came just before departing for a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to receive an extravagant gift — a $400 million “flying palace,” a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family. It would mark the first time such an opulent present has ever been given to the United States by a foreign government.
