FalsePoliticsLast updated: June 7, 2026

Claims that prices can fall by more than 100%

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that drug prices could fall by 400% to 1500%. Those claims are mathematically impossible because the largest possible price reduction is 100%, which would reduce a price to zero.

What we know

Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that his policies would cut drug prices by 400%, 500%, 600%, 1000%, or even 1500%. Those figures have appeared in speeches, press events, and public defenses from allies trying to explain his arithmetic. But the underlying claim is not just exaggerated. It is mathematically impossible.

A percentage decrease is calculated by dividing the reduction by the original price. Under that standard formula, the maximum possible price cut is 100%, which means the price falls to zero. Any claimed cut greater than 100% would mean the final price becomes negative, which would imply the seller is paying the buyer to take the product.

This is easier to see with concrete examples. A drug falling from $1000 to $199 is about an 80% reduction, not a 500% or 578% reduction. A drug falling from $458 to $51 is about an 89% reduction, not an 800% reduction. The inflated figures come from reversing the direction of the calculation or confusing a required rebound increase with the original decrease.

Reporting and fact-checks across AP, CNN, PBS, and NPR have all described Trump's claims as mathematically impossible. Some government announcements about real drug policy have referenced possible reductions in the range of 50% to 60%, which is large but still within normal arithmetic. The falsehood is specifically the repeated claim that prices can be cut by several hundred percent.

Common claims

Drug prices can be cut by 500% or more.False
Trump reduced drug prices by 1000% or 1500%.False
There are multiple valid ways to calculate a percentage decrease above 100%.Not supported

Evidence hierarchy

01Trump can't cut drug prices by up to 1500%AP explains that a reduction over 100% would mean consumers are being paid to take drugs.02Fact check: Trump's mathematically impossible promise to cut drug pricesCNN explains why cuts over 100% imply negative prices.03Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s claim there's more than one way to calculate a percentage decreasePBS walks through the correct calculation and rejects the alternative explanation.04Trump cites numbers a lot. Sometimes they're mathematically impossibleNPR quotes a math teacher explaining why prices cannot fall more than 100%.05White House fact sheet on lowering prescription drug pricesOfficial Trump administration claims discuss large but finite reductions, such as up to 60%, not legitimate cuts above 100%.

Claims that prices can fall by more than 100%

What we know

Common claims

Evidence hierarchy

All sources

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