Trump-Branded Drug Website Mercilessly Dragged Online

President Donald Trump’s launch of the online pharmacy TrumpRx.gov was a resounding publicity coup.

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt promoted the event online and at press briefings, calling it a must-see.

The official announcement was made during prime time, at a time when a larger audience was expected for what had been touted for months as a revolution.

Indeed, the Trump administration is struggling to contain growing American discontent with the rising cost of living, which has led millions to consider alternative options in the 2026 midterm elections.

Even critics acknowledge that tackling drug prices is a laudable goal. Across the United States, Americans yearn for lower prescription drug prices.

A Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) survey published last week revealed that healthcare costs are the top concern for households.

As some experts have pointed out, publishing drug prices on a government website could help reduce these costs. However, the launch of TrumpRx.gov is already drawing sharp criticism.

A website bearing the Trump brand was launched with the aim of helping patients obtain discounted medications, but it does not sell the products directly.

Instead, the site highlights available discounts and redirects customers to pharmaceutical companies where they can obtain coupons and complete their purchases.

From its launch, the site attracted significant criticism on social media because it offered only 43 medications, primarily well-known brands rather than cheaper generics. Among the most prominently featured options were weight-loss medications and fertility treatments.

The administration claimed this was just the beginning, but observers quickly pointed out the limited selection compared to other websites that track drug price changes and offer special deals.

GoodRx tracks the prices of thousands of medications and offers coupons. Cost Plus Drug, owned by Mark Cuban and specializing in generics, initially offered 200 medications but now offers more than 2,500 prescription drugs.

Despite the seemingly significant discounts on fertility medications offered on the TrumpRx website, social media users were quick to point out the shortcomings of this government site, despite its high-profile launch.

One user on X asked, “Is this site just called GoodRx?”

Others took screenshots of both sites to compare prices, accusing TrumpRx of being a copy of an existing coupon site, but without the alternative medications.

While the new president’s website highlighted what it claimed were discounts on all listed brands, it was also noted that cheaper alternatives existed.

The TrumpRx website offered a 50% discount on Cortef, an anti-inflammatory drug, but the alternative turned out to be less expensive.

The site also offered Protonix, used to treat heartburn and prevent ulcers, with a 55% discount, starting at $200. The alternative was available for less than $25.

One user wrote, “With TrumpRx, you can now pay $200 a month for your medications instead of $140 a year.”

The drug Ticosin was also offered with a 50% discount, at $336, while its generic equivalent sells elsewhere for only $58 for the same number of capsules.

Some pointed out that it would have been possible to lower the price of certain medications or distribute coupons without going through Trump’s website.

Wegovy diet pills were advertised at $149 per month. However, upon reading the terms and conditions, customers discovered that the offer was only valid until April, after which the price would jump to $199 per month. This is the price listed on GoodRx.

Eucrisa eczema ointment is offered with an 80% discount, at $158, saving hundreds of dollars. This is the same price listed on GoodRx.

Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, was quick to voice its strong criticism of Trump Rx: “Most uninsured people will not be able to afford these prices. Meanwhile, Big Pharma gets free advertising and keeps prices high.” Like most Trump-branded products, this is a gift to businesses that is very likely to fail.

Other consumer and health experts have highlighted its shortcomings in addressing the fundamental problem of access to healthcare.

Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation explained that TrumpRx is designed for those who pay for their prescription drugs out-of-pocket, not for the vast majority of insured Americans, given that more than 300 million Americans have insurance coverage.

He wrote: “Therefore, this program is unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall price of medications.”

The left-leaning patient advocacy group Protect Our Care accused the president of launching the program to mask his disastrous record.

Leslie Dash, the group’s president, said: “TrumpRx is a scam, not a solution. It’s simply a publicity stunt to grab attention while Big Pharma continues to profit from so-called ‘deals’ that most companies already offer.”

Democratic lawmakers, who have been pressuring Republicans for months to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax breaks, which expire at the end of 2025, expressed frustration with the lack of solutions offered by Trump’s website regarding rising healthcare costs. They pointed out that the previous year’s Republican tax reform had reduced Medicaid’s budget.

CNN asked Dr. Mehmet Oz directly about the message the website would send to Americans who pay cash for healthcare and those already paying thousands of dollars in health insurance premiums.

He replied: “Transparency is essential, and it’s a fundamental element of our ambition for a high-performing healthcare system: making it accessible to everyone, in simple and clear language, so that everyone understands what they’re actually getting.”