TrumpRx claims to offer the world’s lowest prescription drug prices, but a New York Times investigation found stark discrepancies. While some negotiated prices under the Trump administration are cheaper than U.S. rates, many medications—particularly patent-protected drugs—cost significantly more in America than in countries like Germany. For example, American parents using TrumpRx would pay $2,700 monthly for Ngenla, a hormone treatment, compared to a capped $11.50 in Germany. The analysis compared 24 drugs on the TrumpRx list with German public health system pricing, finding lower costs in over half the cases.

The TrumpRx website highlights deals with 16 major drugmakers, primarily benefiting uninsured patients or those facing high out-of-pocket costs. However, the review revealed that generic drugs on the list often cost less in Germany, though undisclosed discounts there complicate direct comparisons. Notably, obesity medications like Wegovy and Zepbound—central to Trump’s affordability messaging—remain pricier in the U.S. than in Japan, where they’re among the cheapest globally. The administration argues price disparities vanish when adjusting for economic conditions, but critics demand transparency in how TrumpRx calculates its “lowest price” claims.

The investigation also tested real-world pharmacy prices in eight cities, including Tokyo, where Zepbound costs half what Americans paid as recently as 2024. While TrumpRx prices have dropped recently, they still lag behind Japan’s rates. This disparity underscores the complexity of international drug pricing, shaped by negotiations between governments and pharmaceutical giants. Germany’s public health system, which denies coverage for unaffordable drugs, exerts stronger pricing pressure than the U.S. model.

Health policy experts stress that Trump’s rhetoric oversimplifies a nuanced issue. While TrumpRx represents a step toward affordability, the data shows it falls short of delivering the world’s lowest prices for many essential medications. The administration’s focus on weight-loss drugs, which lack broad insurance coverage, may resonate politically but fails to address systemic inequities in prescription drug access.