President Donald Trump once again repeated claims that his administration has lowered drug prices by hundreds and even thousands of percentage points — despite such price reductions not being mathematically possible.
During a Monday press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said he was "bringing down drug prices, like, at a level that has not even been thought of." He then quoted figures that, if true, would mean drugmakers are paying Americans to take their products (as a price reduction of 100 percent would make the drug free).
"Think of it. By 1,000 percent, by 1,200, 1,300, 1,400 percent in some cases," he said. "A drug that sells for $10 in London is costing $130 in New York. We are bringing it down to $20 ... You can do your own math. But it’s 2,000 percent, 3,000 percent. It's pretty amazing."
Trump's comments prompted widespread ridicule from various experts, journalists and commentators. Tahra Hoops, who is the director of economic analysis at the Chamber of Progress, observed that Trump "thinks all prices are coming down" because "he literally does not understand basic-level math."
"Either drug companies are gonna give us all their money or he doesn’t know basic math," quipped former Jeopardy! champion Hermant Mehta.
"Hello, Friendly neighborhood professor here. That is an -84.61 [percent] discount," tweeted Mesa State College mass communications professor Adam Cochran. "It is not 2000 [percent]-3000 [percent]. Hope this helps!"
"The President of the United States wouldn’t graduate middle school," public relations and communications professional Jon Evans posted to X.
The group Veterans for Responsible Leadership (VRL) also seized on the president's comments, likening him to "the kid running for middle school class president that just makes s—— up."
"'We will no longer have homework, candy from the vending machines will be free, and there will be a half day every Friday!'" VRL wrote. "He is such a delusional liar."
Watch the video of Trump's comments below: