In a move that President Donald Trump called a “shock to the system,” the White House announced sweeping reductions in prescription drug prices that could reshape the landscape of American healthcare just weeks before the midterm elections.

Standing in the Oval Office flanked by top health officials and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Trump revealed that several commonly prescribed medications will now be offered at dramatically reduced rates through a deal that ties U.S. prices to those paid in other developed countries.

The announcement, immediately labeled one of the most aggressive steps yet to confront high drug costs, signals the administration’s intent to make healthcare affordability a central issue in the political arena.

For millions of Americans who have long struggled under the weight of expensive prescriptions, the reductions offer a glimmer of hope that life-saving treatments will no longer remain out of reach.

According to details released in a White House fact sheet, the agreement ensures that state Medicaid programs will be able to purchase certain drugs at “most favored nation” (MFN) prices — meaning the lowest rates charged anywhere among developed nations.

Trump argued that for too long, the United States has subsidized higher costs for the rest of the world, a problem he has described as “global freeloading.”

The president listed several examples of the dramatic cuts:

• Eucrisa, a treatment for dermatitis, will be discounted by 80 percent.

   

• Xeljanz, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, will see a 40 percent reduction.

• Zavzpret, a newly approved migraine medication, will be cut by half.

“These are real numbers,” Trump emphasized. “They’re not little cuts. They are life-changing for families who are paying thousands of dollars a year just to manage their health. This is the start of a new system where Americans finally get a fair deal.”

Asked how significant these changes could be in shaping the midterm elections, Trump did not hesitate. “Huge,” he replied. “This is something I have wanted to do from the beginning.

From my very first day, I wanted to get drug prices down. We had the greatest economy the world had ever seen, then COVID came, and we had to focus on that. But now we are back, and this is happening.”

By framing the announcement as both a policy breakthrough and a political turning point, Trump underscored how deeply prescription drug prices resonate with voters.

Polling consistently shows that healthcare affordability remains a top concern across party lines. With the midterms looming, the administration clearly hopes to harness the momentum of this deal to boost Republican prospects at the ballot box.

“This is not just policy,” Trump said. “This is people’s lives. This is fairness. And it’s happening right now.”

Trump repeatedly highlighted the role that pharmaceutical companies played during the pandemic, reminding reporters of the speed with which vaccines and therapeutics like Regeneron were developed. He credited Bourla, Pfizer, and other industry leaders with delivering under pressure.

“We worked together during COVID, and we saw what could be done,” Trump said. “Now we’re applying that same urgency to drug pricing. The American people should not be paying two, three, or even ten times more than patients in other countries for the same medicine. Those days are over.”

Health officials present at the announcement praised the agreement as a potential “game-changer.” Yet they also acknowledged that pharmaceutical companies have historically resisted such pricing models, often arguing that price controls could stifle innovation and reduce investment in new treatments.

Trump countered that companies will “continue to make plenty of money” while ordinary Americans finally get relief.

Critics within the pharmaceutical industry have long argued that linking U.S. drug prices to those of other nations could backfire. They warn that research and development budgets may shrink, potentially delaying the arrival of next-generation therapies.

Some executives have raised concerns that global competition could reduce the incentive to bring breakthrough treatments to market in the United States first.

But Trump dismissed those concerns, saying the system has been rigged for decades in favor of corporations at the expense of patients. “They’ve made record profits for years while American families had to choose between groceries and medicine. It’s not sustainable. We’re creating a balance. Innovation will continue, but Americans will no longer be ripped off.”

Health policy analysts note that while pharmaceutical companies may resist the changes, they also face mounting pressure to adapt. The MFN policy creates a precedent that other administrations, regardless of party, may feel compelled to build upon.

For voters who have demanded action for years, the deal represents a rare and concrete step rather than another round of promises.

Behind the numbers are countless stories of Americans who have rationed medication or gone without treatment because of cost. Advocacy groups frequently highlight cases of patients with chronic illnesses who pay thousands per month for drugs that cost a fraction in Europe or Canada.

For example, Xeljanz, one of the drugs named in Trump’s announcement, has been known to cost U.S. patients upwards of $5,000 a month without insurance. A 40 percent reduction could save individuals tens of thousands annually.

Similarly, Zavzpret, a recently approved migraine treatment, has faced criticism for being priced beyond reach for many who suffer debilitating headaches. Cutting that price in half could open access to millions who previously had no affordable option.

Trump leaned into these personal stories, declaring, “This is about moms and dads, about kids and grandparents, about people who shouldn’t have to decide between their health and their wallet.”

The administration suggested that this agreement is just the first step in a series of deals designed to bring down costs across the board. Trump told reporters, “We’re going to have another meeting next week with another great company. Similar numbers, maybe even bigger. We’re talking about reductions you wouldn’t believe — some 1,000 percent drops in prices. Nothing like this has ever happened in medicine before.”

While details of future deals remain undisclosed, the implication is clear: the White House intends to keep the issue front and center throughout the election season, showcasing tangible benefits for everyday Americans.

Trump also signaled that the administration is exploring ways to expand the MFN model beyond Medicaid, potentially affecting private insurers and Medicare in the long term. Such an expansion could dramatically alter the healthcare market, though it would also trigger fierce resistance from industry lobbyists.

Trump argued that the MFN framework restores fairness to a global system where Americans have long shouldered disproportionate costs. “The world is going to go up a little bit,” he said. “We’re going to come down a lot. But now it’s fair. We’re going to be paying the same thing.”

International observers are likely to monitor how these changes ripple through the global pharmaceutical market. If U.S. prices drop sharply, companies may attempt to raise costs abroad to maintain margins, potentially sparking political debates in Europe and Asia about healthcare affordability. Yet Trump appeared undeterred, framing the matter as an overdue correction.

Healthcare analysts reacted with cautious optimism. Some noted that while the immediate impact on select drugs is significant, the broader success of the policy will depend on its scalability.

Others pointed out that implementation challenges could arise, especially if legal challenges emerge from pharmaceutical companies or industry groups.

Still, the announcement represents a political victory for Trump, who has often clashed with Big Pharma in speeches but struggled to secure major reforms during his first term. The visibility of the deal, paired with its timing ahead of the midterms, ensures it will remain a key talking point in the weeks to come.

Trump’s framing of the announcement leaves little doubt that he views drug price reductions as both a moral imperative and a political opportunity. By repeatedly describing the cuts as “historic” and “unprecedented,” he has set expectations high for what comes next.

Whether the strategy succeeds will depend on several factors:

• The durability of the deal amid potential legal pushback.

• The administration’s ability to expand MFN pricing to additional drugs and programs.

• Voters’ perception of how quickly and directly they feel the impact in their wallets.

For now, the message is simple: a long-awaited breakthrough has arrived, and the president is determined to claim credit.

Trump closed his remarks with a promise that echoed his campaign trail rhetoric but carried the weight of an immediate policy change. “Americans are not going to be ripped off anymore,” he said. “Those days are over.”

As the midterm elections draw near, that message may resonate powerfully with voters weary of high medical bills. By targeting one of the most universally felt economic burdens, the administration hopes to redefine the conversation around healthcare and fairness.

Whether or not the move ultimately transforms the pharmaceutical industry, it has already reshaped the political battlefield — and perhaps the daily lives of millions of Americans.