'TrumpRx' Is Another Pretend Solution for High Drug Prices

https://prospect.org/health/2025-10-02-trumprx-pretend-solution-high-drug-prices/

We have seen enough Donald Trump–branded consumer pitches—Trump Steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump Airlines, Trump Watches—to know that the quality of the service is less important than giving the impression of something legitimate. That’s the spirit with which we should approach TrumpRx, an alleged website where Medicaid patients can purchase low-cost prescription drugs.

At a Tuesday press conference, Trump announced a TrumpRx.gov website set to launch in early 2026, with characteristically few details. There is no language about TrumpRx at the Department of Health and Human Services or its agencies, only a fact sheet at Whitehouse.gov. The only indication of what drugs will be available is vague language about a “large majority” of primary care treatments and “some select specialty brands.” The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced a voluntary agreement to supply drugs for the website, but that agreement, Pfizer said, will be kept secret. (Public Citizen has issued a FOIA request for that deal text; an HHS spokesperson would only refer to the White House fact sheet.)

In fact, nobody will be able to buy drugs directly from TrumpRx at all. Mark Cuban, the owner of his own drug purchasing website called Cost Plus Drugs, told me via email that “I’ve been told it’s just a listing site and won’t actually sell anything … As long as they list or use Cost Plus Drugs, I’m good with it.” Senior administration officials have separately confirmed that this is the case.

A listing site—which would refer users to other places to buy pharmaceuticals—would filter people to the latest drug industry tactic to avoid patient anger over high prices: direct-to-consumer, or DTC, websites. The day before the TrumpRx announcement, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the top lobbying group for the industry, unveiled its own DTC site for exactly the same purpose called AmericasMedicines.com. Elli Lilly, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and even Pfizer already have their own “pharm-to-table” (not my expression, and I threw up a little in my mouth while writing it) sites.

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