Kennedy Grandstands While He Sells Out the American People And Pads Drug Companies’ Profits
RFK Jr. talks a big talk when it comes to taking on Big Pharma, but has sided with corporations over the American people time and time again. He promised Americans would have the lowest drug prices in the world by the end of the administration yet he has stayed busy granting almost every single one of drugmakers’ wishes: He cut sweetheart deals with manufacturers and hid the details from the public. He pushed for PBM reform to avoid targeting the real root of high drug prices: manufacturer greed. He raised drug costs for thousands of seniors to pad drug companies’ profits. He fed working Americans false promises and rhetoric on drug prices to keep them at bay while drug manufacturers landed their biggest wins in years. While RFK Jr. offers meaningless lip service about taking on the drug industry, here is the reality:
RHETORIC
REALITY
“Have you ended the corruption in pharma? I don’t think so. But I will end it.” – RFK Jr. on 7/28/24
After a few dinners with drug company CEOs in a gold-covered ballroom in Mar-A-Lago, RFK Jr. kneeled to the industry just like his boss. The ten largest drugmakers made $50 billion more in profits and hiked the cost of 750+ drugs in RFK’s first year at HHS. Meanwhile, he carried out an executive order that read like an industry wishlist, his FDA launched a listening tour for execs instead of working people, fast-tracked drug approvals for special interests, and he sang the industry’s praises at countless publicity stunts.
“We now have the lowest drug prices in the world.” – RFK Jr. on 3/23/26
The New York Times reported Americans would pay twice as much through TrumpRx as other countries for many drugs, including GLP-1s. As of March 2026, a record high six in ten Americans are worried about being able to afford prescription drug costs under RFK Jr. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. gaslights the millions of Americans who are forced to skip prescriptions and ration doses every day.
“Every president in my lifetime has said they were going to fix [high drug prices]. Nobody has succeeded…now we have.” – RFK Jr. on 1/21/26
Under President Biden, Democrats fought Big Pharma and won, without a single Republican vote. Their legislation slashed the cost of the most commonly prescribed and expensive drugs for seniors, capped seniors’ annual drug costs, and saved taxpayers $100 billion over a decade. Trump opposed it and worked to undermine it with his Big, Ugly bill. RFK Jr. carried out his legislation and carved out top-selling products from Medicare drug price negotiation, handing Big Pharma their biggest victory in years. Many drug companies have celebrated their multiple wins under the administration. A former Trump official said of Trump’s deals: “If this is all that President Trump does on drug pricing, it is likely a win for the pharmaceutical industry and should serve as a clearing event.” RFK Jr. has yet to reveal any deal details, and the administration keeps pushing for more industry giveaways.
“Americans pay too much for prescription drugs because middlemen profit from a system patients can’t see.” -RFK Jr. on 1/27/26
RFK Jr. is helping pharmaceutical companies point their fingers at middlemen instead of holding the drug companies accountable. Drug manufacturers ultimately set prices and enjoy profit margins higher than any other player in the health system. But instead of building upon Democrats’ wins and forcing drugmakers to accept lower prices, such as in other countries that pay much less for drugs, RFK Jr. is selling the public on Big Pharma’s scapegoat. Under RFK Jr., Big Pharma gets a get-out-of-jail-free card while PBMs take the heat, drugmakers continue to raise prices, and millions suffer.