Donald Trump targets pharmaceutical industry in campaign rhetoric

Donald Trump has centered his political platform on pharmaceutical issues, addressing both the opioid epidemic and drug pricing. In 2017, Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency to mobilize federal resources against overdose deaths and addiction involving substances like heroin and fentanyl.

In recent campaign rhetoric, Trump has accused Democratic leaders of being ‘owned’ by the pharmaceutical industry, claiming they have failed to lower medication costs. He asserts that his administration achieved the ‘greatest reduction’ in prescription drug prices and claims to be the first president to confront the industry directly. Trump also linked his trade policies, specifically tariffs on companies such as Bayer, Merck, and Pfizer, to increased domestic investment within the United States.