US President Donald Trump on Friday used a blunt and humorous anecdote to renew his criticism of high prescription drug prices in the United States. While speaking about funding for rural healthcare, Trump recounted the experience of a “very rich” and “very powerful” friend who, despite using the weight-loss drug Ozempic, remains “fatter than ever.”
Trump said his friend frequently travels to London and was shocked by the difference in drug prices between the US and the UK. According to Trump, the same Ozempic medication that costs around $1,300 in New York was available for just $87 in London, despite being manufactured by the same company and in the same facility.
Using the example to underscore what he described as an unfair pricing system, Trump argued that American patients are being forced to pay far more than consumers in other countries for identical medicines. He said the discrepancy highlights the urgent need for reforms to rein in prescription drug costs in the US.
Trump added a personal jab to the story, saying he told his friend the drug “does not work” on him after seeing that he had gained even more weight. While acknowledging that Ozempic works for many people, Trump said his friend took the comment in good humour.
The remarks, though offhand and mocking in tone, were part of Trump’s broader push to pressure lawmakers to improve healthcare access in rural America and tackle soaring drug prices, an issue he has repeatedly raised during his presidency and political campaigns.
