U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced legislation on Wednesday to codify President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices.
The president announced on Sunday via a Truth Social post that he would sign an executive order requiring pharmaceutical companies to reduce their prices on prescription drugs. Trump argued that these companies were passing on excessive costs to American consumers by charging significantly higher prices domestically for the same drugs sold at lower prices abroad.
“We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years,” the president wrote. “Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Tomorrow morning, in the White House, at 9:00 A.M., I will be signing one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history. Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%.” Trump further noted that drug prices will rise throughout the world, “and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA!”
The order has garnered unexpected support from left-leaning allies, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who proposed legislation to codify the president’s order into law. “I support @realDonaldTrump effort to ensure Americans do not pay more for drugs than those in other countries,” he wrote in an X post. Later, while speaking on the House floor, Khanna formally endorsed Trump’s “Most Favored Nation” policy and introduced the bill.
“My legislation will codify President Trump’s executive order, which basically says that Americans should not pay more for drugs than people in other countries and other parts of the world. Right now we’re paying two to three times more for our drugs than people in other industrialized nations,” he said. “Now, this executive order codified by the legislation will allow our cabinet secretaries to put pressure on big pharma and make sure that they are not price gouging and will allow for the importation of cheaper drugs.”
Khanna went on to point out that Trump’s order will likely face legal challenges and could eventually be overturned, much like similar actions taken during the president’s first term. “The only way we can stand up to Big Pharma is to codify in legislation what the president wants to do in an executive order,” the House Democrat continued. So here’s the deal; if I can cross the aisle and support President Trump’s executive order in legislation, every Republican should be willing to cross the aisle and support my legislation.”
