Key Takeaways

• President Trump claimed he cut drug prices by 600 percent.
• Fox News host John Roberts called this claim mathematically impossible.
• White House aide Howard Lutnick argued the math depends on the starting point.
• Even supporters agree big cuts are real but not 600 percent.
• Clear math shows prices can be cut by up to 87 percent, not 600 percent.

After a prime-time speech, viewers heard big promises on drug prices. President Donald Trump said he had cut drug prices by 600 percent. The next day, Fox News host John Roberts challenged that number. He told White House aide Howard Lutnick it simply could not add up. This story looks at the back-and-forth, the real math, and what it means for everyday Americans.

Debunking Drug Prices Math

In his speech, the president said his administration had slashed drug prices by 600 percent. However, the very next morning, John Roberts spoke on air about reality versus perception. He noted that if you cut something by 100 percent, it goes to zero. You cannot cut by more than 100 percent. If you advertise a 600 percent cut, it sounds like companies would have to pay people to take their medicine.

Roberts asked Lutnick to explain how these numbers made sense. Lutnick replied that if a drug cost one hundred dollars before, and now costs thirteen dollars, the price is about seven times lower. He said, “It all depends on when you look at it.” From the old price to the new, he argued, it could be seen as a big drop. But this was not a true 600 percent cut.

How Does Math Work on Price Cuts?

First, understand percent change. To cut a price by 50 percent, you divide by two. A 75 percent cut means dividing by four. Even a 100 percent cut leaves you with zero cost. In simple terms, you cannot go below zero. Therefore, you cannot cut more than 100 percent.

When prices move from one value to another, you measure the change based on the original amount. If a price drops from one hundred dollars to thirteen dollars, here is the math:
• Difference = 100 minus 13 = 87
• Percent change = (Difference ÷ Original) × 100
• Percent change = (87 ÷ 100) × 100 = 87 percent

So the real cut is 87 percent.

Why the 600 Percent Claim?

Lutnick tried another angle. He noted that to go back up from thirteen dollars to one hundred dollars, you would multiply by about eight. He said this means a 700 percent increase, so in reverse it might be a 700 percent cut. This logic, however, confuses the base. You always use the starting price to calculate how much something went down. In fact, using the new price as a base gives a misleading figure about the cut.

In short, you report price drops based on where you began. If you start at one hundred, you cannot state an 87 percent drop as 600 percent or 700 percent.

What Fox News Host Said

John Roberts told Lutnick that saying drug prices had been cut by 600 percent was “mathematically impossible.” He went on to explain that if you claim a more than 100 percent reduction, it suggests a negative price. He challenged whether parts of the president’s speech were just hype.

Roberts also asked how much of the speech was fact and how much was exaggeration. Such questions are common when politicians use big numbers. News hosts often press aides to clarify. In this case, the math did not add up.

White House Aide’s Defense

Howard Lutnick stood by his answer. He pointed out that math can look different from another angle. He said that if a drug was thirteen dollars now, then to climb back to one hundred, the price has to rise by 700 percent. Therefore, one could argue the drop was 700 percent. But this view flips the original baseline.

He concluded by saying the goal was clear: to hammer down the cost of drugs. Everyone could agree on that. Yet, he admitted the choice of words might confuse people.

Why This Debate Matters

Drug prices affect millions of Americans. High costs can force patients to skip doses or avoid treatment. Therefore, cutting drug prices is a major pledge for any administration.

However, big claims without clear math undercut trust. When leaders promise huge results, people expect accuracy. If a claim seems too good to be true, many will doubt the rest of the message. This can hurt public confidence in real wins as well.

Ultimately, the White House will point to actual changes in drug costs. Meanwhile, critics will keep asking for clear proof. In today’s fast news cycle, precision matters more than ever.

The Real Impact on Your Wallet

Even a true 87 percent cut is huge. If a vital medication drops from one hundred to thirteen dollars, patients save eighty-seven dollars per dose. Over a year, that saves thousands of dollars.

Transitioning from high drug costs to lower ones can improve health and peace of mind. It can also reduce overall medical bills. When patients can afford their medications, they stick to treatment. This leads to fewer emergencies and lower hospital costs. Thus, real cuts in drug prices can benefit the entire healthcare system.

Looking Ahead

In the coming weeks, experts will watch new drug price rules carefully. They will track how these rules affect costs at pharmacies and insurers. Meanwhile, the public will want clear, honest updates on what changes are happening.

For now, one thing is clear: you cannot cut a price by more than 100 percent. And when zero is the bottom, all cuts must stay within that limit.

FAQs

What counts as a percent cut in price?

A percent cut shows how much the price went down compared to its original value. You subtract the new price from the original price, divide by the original, then multiply by 100.

Why can’t you cut a price by more than 100 percent?

A 100 percent cut brings the price to zero. Anything more would mean a negative cost, which cannot happen in real sales.

Did the administration really lower all drug prices?

The administration did change rules to lower many drug costs. However, the exact amount of the drop varies by drug and insurer. No official list shows a flat 600 percent cut.

How do these debates affect patients?

When leaders use clear numbers, patients trust that prices will drop. Confusing claims can make people doubt real benefits. Accurate math ensures everyone understands actual savings.