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Trump goes into full panic mode over fear of losing, then calls himself ‘the affordability president’ as midterms ‘look ugly’ for Republicans
Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump has crowned himself the "Affordability President" in a bombastic Truth Social rant, crediting his "Most Favored
stitchsnitches.com
Trump goes into full panic mode over fear of losing, then calls himself ‘the affordability president’ as midterms ‘look ugly’ for Republicans
Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump has crowned himself the "Affordability President" in a bombastic Truth Social rant, crediting his "Most Favored
stitchsnitches.com
Trump goes into full panic mode over fear of losing, then calls himself ‘the affordability president’ as midterms ‘look ugly’ for Republicans
Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump has crowned himself the “Affordability President” in a bombastic Truth Social rant, crediting his “Most Favored Nation” pricing policy with slashing prescription drug costs by astronomical figures—”500%, 600%, 700%,” and beyond.
The Saturday morning missive, laced with hyperbolic praise and a call to arms for Republicans, arrives amid mounting GOP anxiety over economic headwinds that could jeopardize their congressional majorities in the 2026 midterms.
In the post, Trump urged his party to “TALK LOUDLY AND PROUDLY” about what he described as a “revolution in medicine, the biggest and most important event, EVER,” insisting it would propel Republicans to “RECORD NUMBERS” in next year’s elections.
The declaration follows a bruising November off-year sweep by Democrats, where affordability emerged as a decisive voter issue, and comes as fact-checkers once again dismantle the president’s elastic use of percentages.
The Truth Social Tirade: Fuzzy Math Meets Bold Claims
Trump’s message, timestamped early Saturday, opened with a flourish of all-caps bravado: “Because I have invoked FAVORED NATIONS STATUS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DRUG PRICES ARE FALLING AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, 500%, 600%, 700%, and more.” He positioned the achievement as uniquely his own—”No other President has been able to do this, BUT I HAVE!”—and extended it to a broader vision of “much less expensive, and far better, HEALTHCARE.”
The MFN policy, revived from Trump’s first term, aims to tie U.S. drug prices to the lowest rates paid by other developed nations, pressuring pharmaceutical giants to lower costs or risk losing Medicare reimbursements.
Recent White House announcements highlighted deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to cap prices on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy at $150 per month for initial doses—potentially saving Medicare billions but not yet translating to immediate, widespread consumer relief.
Trump framed these as immediate windfalls, but the math has drawn swift ridicule from economists and fact-checkers.
A 500% price cut, for instance, would reduce a $100 medication to -$400—effectively paying patients to take it home. Health economist Timothy McBride called such claims “just not logical,” noting that reductions over 100% defy basic arithmetic.
This isn’t Trump’s first foray into percentage hyperbole; in July, he promised 1,500% cuts, prompting similar debunkings from major outlets. Analysts emphasize that while U.S. prices remain 3-10 times higher than in peer nations, actual savings under MFN—estimated at 36% for 15 high-cost drugs starting in 2027—fall far short of the president’s figures.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the rhetoric as highlighting “exponentially” higher U.S. costs abroad, but critics argue it risks eroding trust amid real economic strains like inflation and stagnant wages.
Trump’s embrace of “affordability” marks an evolution. Just weeks ago, he dismissed the term as a “new word” coined by Democrats, insisting prices had already plummeted under his watch and faulting Republicans for not touting victories loudly enough.
During Thanksgiving remarks, he cited a 25% cheaper holiday meal at Walmart compared to the Biden era as proof—though broader data shows grocery costs up 20% since 2021.
The shift intensified after Democrats’ November triumphs in governors’ races in New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where affordability dominated exit polls and campaigns.
Trump blamed the losses on a protracted government shutdown—ironically extended by GOP demands for spending cuts—and quipped that Democrats won only because “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT.” Now, with midterms looming, he’s seizing the narrative, directing aides to center economic messaging on his wins and warning against ceding ground to opponents.
Republicans are heeding the alarm bells. Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly urged GOP leaders to “get something going” on costs, while Laura Ingraham warned that 2026 “look ugly” without action.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) echoed this, predicting his party would “get killed” if it ignores rising health care premiums amid the Affordable Care Act open enrollment. GOP strategists like Karl Rove advocate uniting behind a growth agenda, with Trump planning a cross-country “affordability tour” to rally the base.
Private fears run deeper: Lawmakers whisper of a potential House wipeout and Senate losses in battlegrounds like North Carolina and Maine, with up to 60 competitive House races on the horizon.
Even party switchers, like former Republican Robb Ryerse running as a
Democrat in Arkansas, cite affordability as a motivator. Public sentiment reflects frustration, with many urging Trump to prioritize middle-class wallets over distractions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has teased an “affordability agenda” for December, potentially including tax tweaks from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but skeptics doubt unity amid a razor-thin majority.
For Trump, the midterms are personal: Losing Congress could stall his agenda, from border security to tax overhauls. Yet, real savings—like $685 million for patients from Medicare negotiations—pale against the “fantasy math” of 700% drops. Whether voters buy the spin or demand substance will define not just 2026, but the affordability of Trump’s second-term legacy.
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