TrumpRx launch backfires as observers call out Trump's fuzzy math and buried 'fine print'

President Donald Trump has called his rollout of TrumpRx "the biggest thing ever to happen on drug prices" and claimed the achievement alone "should win us the midterms." But critics rolled their eyes Thursday night after the official launch, particularly taking issue with his math not quite adding up, and pointing to the "fine print" that undercuts his boasts.

The new government website connects patients with discounted medications and printable coupons, capping Trump's year-long pressure campaign against big pharmaceuticals using tariff threats and expedited FDA reviews. At the Eisenhower Executive Office Building demonstration, Trump's team, including controversial Department of Government Efficiency official Edward Coristine and TV personality-turned-head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, showed off how Novo Nordisk's Ozempic could drop from $1,000 to $350 monthly.

"You will see dramatic reductions in the cost of popular weight loss drugs known as GLP-1s. GLP-1s. Novo Nordisk will be slashing the price, as an example, of Ozempic from more than $1,000 to $199. And the price of Wegovy from more than $1,300 to $199. Nobody can even believe it. A 578% difference."

Trump's enthusiasm crashed into a brick wall with skeptics, as Democrats demand concrete proof of actual savings. Northwestern University health economist Craig Garthwaite called it "far from revolutionary," noting most Americans can't afford brand-name drugs without insurance anyway.

Social media observers called out the president over his fuzzy math.

Jeff Domingues, editor at S&P Global, shot back on X, "No, it’s an 84.7% decrease. I constantly keep http://Percentagecalculator.net occupying a browser tab as a copy editing resource."

EU citizen Roland Ley chided on X, "Math. Not Trump's strength, like so many other things aren't either."

Software sales professional Dan Gleason pointed to the "fine print" showing the discounted prices were a limited-time offer for the first two monthly refills of Ozempic for new patients. He noted the price increased to $349 and $499 for months three and four.

Erin Ryan, writer and host of the Crooked Media podcast "Hysteria," jabbed on X, "Can science invent an injection that makes lazy adults understand basic math."

The progressive Call to Activism social media account wrote on X, "TRUMP FAILS AT MATH Trump brags about drug prices, claiming: Ozempic will drop from $1,000 to $199… a 578% difference.' That’s false. That’s an 80% cut, not 578%. Even worse? The 'price cuts' are for first time patients for a LIMITED-TIME. A farce.

Author and former freelance journalist Tracy Solomon wrote on X, "Aside from Trump needing a calculator, he also forgot to mention this is an introductory price only. There should always be captions with facts and added information while he speaks."