Should the government participate in setting prices for consumers? Fox News Digital has asked people from Houston, Texas to Detroit, Michigan to weigh the trade-offs after President Donald Trump ordered pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs this week.
In an executive order signed on Monday, Trump directed pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of prescription drugs, which is comparable to the lowest prices in other developed countries or face consequences.
"The principle is simple - no matter what other developed countries pay the lowest price for drugs, that's what Americans will pay," Trump said at the White House on Monday. "The prices of some prescription drugs and drugs will be reduced by 50% to 80% to 90% almost immediately."
People around the country who spoke with Fox News Digital have responded positively to Trump's plan to cut consumer prices, but differently to getting the government involved in achieving that goal.
Trump says he will reduce drug prices through executive order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"The reduced cost of medicine will help older people and older people and people who are challenged by certain income and have medical needs," said John of Houston.
Krishna, from Detroit, said he personally knew he had to buy lives that saved people overseas because that was "one tenth of the cost of the United States in the United States."
Emmanuel of Houston agreed: “Canada, Mexico’s drug prices are lower than those in the United States.”
He added: "Our health care, we say it's the best in the world, right? But people can't afford the medicine."
DEMS diverges under Trump's executive order to cut drug prices
President Trump announced plans to sign an executive order this week, saying he would reduce the cost of prescription drugs by 30-80% almost immediately. (Getty Image)
Trump said the order would save Americans money by preventing the United States from “subsidizing” foreign health care.
"We are subsidizing other people's health care, they pay a small portion of the country, we are paying multiple times for the same drug, and no longer tolerate the profits and prices of Big Pharma," Trump said at the White House on Monday.
“Even if the U.S. is only 4% of the world’s population, pharmaceutical companies make more than two-thirds of their profits in the U.S. So, in the 4% of the population, most of the money in pharmaceutical companies make money. Most of their profits come from the U.S. This is not a good thing.”
Those who spoke with Fox News digital numbers supported Trump’s plan to undertake the big pharma, while others regulated the federal government’s consumer prices.
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In July 2018, I took a drug on the belt at a mailing pharmacy warehouse in Florence, New Jersey. (AP/Julio Cortez)
"I think when governments are involved in the market, I think they tend to make things worse than they are actually going to be," said Alec of Detroit. "I think generally, when the market solves the problem on its own, it tends to be better. Obviously, every market (such as the healthcare industry) isn't always the case. So, I think in some cases, they should be involved at least. Some cases shouldn't."
"I just think the government is better than many governments," said James of Knoxville, Tennessee.
As long as the government participates at least, others will do it.
"Not too many, maybe some basic controls, so things aren't going to get stuck," said Karisa of Knoxville.
"There is minimal control because I do believe we need some kind of freedom to sell what we need," said Aiden of Detroit.
Others say the government should step in to stop companies from taking advantage of consumers.
"I think, yes, because you don't want companies to deceive the public," said Wyatt of Detroit. "So if they're going to raise prices, then the government should be involved and set a fair price for things."
"The government should be involved in everything. They should get rid of its Heiney and do something for everything," replied Olan Wangze of Houston.
"The freedom of the market is that it hurts the individual and individual consumers in the United States," Krishna said. "I think the first goal of a company is how much money it makes, so how much wealth can be extracted from the American generals is obviously the best thing for both companies and the consumers involved."
People across the country have responded to President Trump’s order to lower drug prices. (Fox News figures)
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Trump's executive order says that if drug manufacturers do not comply with comparable pricing offered to other countries, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will "propose rules that impose the most tasteful national pricing; and take other aggressive measures to significantly reduce the cost of prescription drugs to U.S. consumers and end vest habits."
Diana Stancy and Greg Norman of Fox News contributed to the report.