RFK Jr. Says Trump Has a ‘Different Way’ of Doing Math When Questioned About President’s False Claim He Cut Prescription Cost 600%

In a recent Senate hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questioning from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders over the Trump administration’s claims regarding reductions in prescription drug prices. During the session, which took place on 22 April, Kennedy was pressed to clarify statements made by President Donald Trump that suggested drug prices had been slashed by as much as 600% through the administration’s initiatives.

Senator Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, challenged Kennedy on the arithmetic behind these claims, highlighting the implausibility of such figures. “President Trump and the Republicans slashed health care for millions of families,” Warren stated. She went on to assert that Trump’s promotion of the TrumpRx website offered a misleading solution to concerns over soaring healthcare costs, drawing attention to Trump’s assertion that the platform had dramatically lowered prices. “Six hundred percent, which I think means companies should be paying you to take their drugs,” she added, pointing out the absurdity of the calculation.

In his defence, Kennedy suggested that the President employed a “different way of calculating” costs. He explained that price reductions could be expressed in various percentage terms, citing hypothetical examples. However, experts and analysts have clarified that a drop from £600 to £10 represents approximately a 98% reduction, not a 600% one as claimed. This misunderstanding highlights a fundamental miscalculation that has stirred scepticism over the administration’s economic messaging.

The accusations of Trump’s exaggerated claims are supported by a report released by Senator Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, shortly before the hearing. The findings indicated that the policies enacted under Trump’s leadership, including negotiations with pharmaceutical companies and the introduction of TrumpRx, had yielded minimal impact on reducing prices. Instead, the report suggested that drug companies increased prices while posting substantial profits. The research stated that companies involved with the administration had launched new drugs at exorbitant average prices of £353,000 per year, while simultaneously hiking the cost of existing medications.

According to Sanders’ team, the pharmaceutical sector had witnessed a dramatic rise in profits, reaching £177 billion in 2025—an alarming 66% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the report conveyed that the compensation for CEOs in these firms had surged to £346 million, reflecting a 24% rise year-on-year. These staggering statistics paint a troubling picture of an industry seemingly thriving amidst promises of affordability.

During the Senate hearing, Sanders countered Kennedy’s assertions regarding price reductions and called attention to the ongoing disparities in prescription drug pricing between the United States and other countries. Despite the Secretary’s claims, Sanders emphasised that many Americans continue to bear the brunt of excessive drug costs. “Nobody in the world believes that [the US pays the lowest prices in the world for prescription drugs],” he stated, urging Kennedy to clarify the administration’s stance on the matter.

Kennedy did concede that several medications remain excluded from negotiated agreements, thus upholding the ongoing issue of elevated drug prices for American consumers. This admission underscored the fact that, despite the administration’s rhetoric, the reality of drug pricing has not shifted significantly, leaving many families grappling with healthcare affordability.

The hearing also saw Senator Sanders rally support from three Republican colleagues—Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Josh Hawley of Missouri—for legislation aimed at capping drug prices for Americans at rates comparable to those in Europe and Canada. However, the proposal ultimately failed to meet the required 60-vote threshold for passage, with the majority of Republican senators opposing it.

In summary, the exchange between Kennedy, Warren, and Sanders reflects a broader debate over healthcare policy in the United States. As the government grapples with issues of affordability and accessibility in healthcare, claims made by political leaders—especially those relating to pricing—are increasingly scrutinised, raising questions about the integrity of the data presented to the public. The ongoing discourse is adding to the complexities of healthcare reform, emphasizing the need for clear and accurate representations of the economic realities facing American families.