Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, said that President Trump's plan to lower prescription drug costs counters pharmaceutical industry lobbying practices.
"Just a few hours after teasing his most important Truth Social Post ever, President Trump announced that he'll be signing an EO Monday morning to lower the cost of prescription drugs 30-80," said Kirk. "Big Pharma's lobbying of Washington DC has long allowed them to price gouge Americans."
President Trump announced on May 12, 2025, his intention to sign an executive order establishing a "Most Favored Nation" pricing model for prescription drugs. This policy aims to align U.S. drug prices with the lowest prices paid by other countries, potentially reducing costs by 30% to 80%. According to The Guardian, Trump criticized pharmaceutical companies for overcharging American consumers and called for a more equitable pricing system.
Eli Lilly has intensified its legal and lobbying efforts as it faces competition from compounding pharmacies producing versions of its weight-loss drug, Zepbound. In March 2025, the company filed a federal lawsuit against Texas-based Empower Pharmacy, alleging the illegal sale of compounded semaglutide. According to Patient Daily, this lawsuit is part of a broader strategy to protect Lilly’s market share and intellectual property. The company spent $3.4 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2025—nearly double what it spent during the same period in 2024.
Empower Pharmacy responded to Eli Lilly’s lawsuit by defending its production of compounded semaglutide and criticizing the company's legal tactics. In a statement, Empower argued that Lilly is attempting to limit patient access to affordable alternatives and emphasized that compounded medications serve those who either cannot afford or do not qualify for brand-name versions.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2024 report to Congress, out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs has been rising at an average annual rate of 5.8% from 2007 to 2020—outpacing many other categories of healthcare spending. This inflation has made access to vital medications increasingly difficult for uninsured and underinsured Americans. Many patients turn to compounded medications for affordable solutions when commercial options are cost-prohibitive. The report highlights how these escalating costs disproportionately affect those without robust prescription coverage.
Charlie Kirk is the founder and president of Turning Point USA, an influential youth organization promoting free-market values and small government principles. Born in 1993, Kirk rose to prominence as a vocal advocate for conservative causes and aligned closely with Donald Trump during and after his presidency. As reported by Turning Point’s official site, Kirk founded the organization in 2012 and has since expanded it into a national movement active on over 3,000 U.S. campuses.
