Trump Mocks Macron With Tariff Threat Story, Claims France Bowed to US Drug Price Demands
US President Donald Trump has publicly mocked French President Emmanuel Macron, claiming he forced France to sharply increase prescription drug prices by threatening sweeping tariffs on French exports to the United States.
Speaking to Republican lawmakers, Trump described what he called a “Most Favoured Nation” policy, under which the US would only pay the lowest drug prices charged anywhere in the world. He argued that for decades, the United States had subsidised global healthcare by paying far higher prices for the same medicines.
Trump said Americans were paying up to “14 times more” for prescription drugs than consumers in France and other European countries. He claimed he demanded Paris raise its drug prices to narrow that gap, a proposal Macron allegedly rejected at first.
According to Trump, he then issued an ultimatum: either France agreed to US demands or faced a 25 percent tariff on all French products entering the American market, including wine and champagne. Trump said the threat was deliberately designed to outweigh the cost of the drug price increases he was seeking.
In a mocking imitation of the French president, Trump claimed Macron ultimately conceded, telling him, “Donald, you have a deal,” and agreeing to raise prescription drug prices by as much as 200 percent. Trump said he was asked not to disclose the agreement publicly.
The US president told lawmakers that France’s drug prices rose from roughly $10 per pill to $30, while US prices fell sharply from levels as high as $130. He described the reduction for American consumers as historic, claiming drops of up to 80 or 90 percent, and in some cases “thousands of percent,” depending on how the figures were calculated.
Trump insisted similar tactics were used with other countries, saying foreign leaders typically agreed to quadruple drug prices within an average of “3.2 minutes” after tariff threats were made. He claimed every country initially refused before rapidly reversing course.
The remarks were delivered in a combative and theatrical tone, with Trump ridiculing foreign leaders and repeatedly asserting that his approach succeeded where previous US administrations had failed. He also criticised media outlets for what he described as a lack of coverage of falling drug prices.
Trump linked his tariff strategy to broader economic and national security goals, arguing that trade pressure had driven record investment into the United States. He suggested favourable rulings from the US Supreme Court were crucial to maintaining tariff authority.
Neither President Macron nor the French government has issued an immediate response to Trump’s claims. No independent confirmation has been provided to verify the alleged agreements or the specific drug price changes described.
The comments add to already strained rhetoric between Washington and European capitals over trade, healthcare pricing, and the use of tariffs as a political and economic weapon.
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