As of the close of the day on May 12, my positive/negative score on the Trump administration stands at -655.
12 May 2025
0: Trump announces “Most Favored Nation” pricing strategy for drugs [233]
-1: At the same time as extolling “MFN” drug pricing, Trump goes after countries that “extort” US drug companies [234]
-1: Trump casts aspersions on the European Union [235]
-1: Trump claims without evidence eleven new automobile factories are planned or under construction in the States [236]
-1: Trump blinks in the US-China trade war: for 90 days US will charge 30% in imports; China will charge 10%
-1: Trump makes another over-the-top post with mixed facts and fiction [237]
-1: Kevin Hassett blames Canada for tensions with Trump: “Canada kept making it worse and worse with their rhetoric.”
-1: Trump claims he just coined the word “equalizing” [238]
-1: Trump talks about a “fat shot drug” (whatever that is) [239]
-1: Headline: RFK Jr. brags about taking grandkids swimming in creek with sewage health warnings (Raw Story)
References
233. Trump: “For many years the World has wondered why Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the United States States of America were SO MUCH HIGHER IN PRICE THAN THEY WERE IN ANY OTHER NATION, SOMETIMES BEING FIVE TO TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SAME DRUG, MANUFACTURED IN THE EXACT SAME LABORATORY OR PLANT, BY THE SAME COMPANY??? It was always difficult to explain and very embarrassing because, in fact, there was no correct or rightful answer. The Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the “suckers” of America, ALONE. Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party. We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Tomorrow morning, in the White House, at 9:00 A.M.., I will be signing one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history. Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%. They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA! I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World. Our Country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens Healthcare Costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before. Additionally, on top of everything else, the United States will save TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
234. Trump: “I’m directing the US trade representatives and Department of Commerce to begin investigations of foreign nations that extort drug companies ... we’re gonna tell those countries, like those represented by the EU, that that game is up. Sorry. If they want to get cute, then they don’t have to sell cars into the US anymore.”
235. Trump: “The European Union is in many ways nastier than China. We’ve just started with them. We have all the cards. They treated us very unfairly.”
236. “We have at least 11 committed, massive car factories that are gonna be built -- that are in the process of being built. Some have actually started.”
237. Trump: “DRUG PRICES TO BE CUT BY 59%, PLUS! Gasoline, Energy, Groceries, and all other costs, DOWN. NO INFLATION!!! LOVE, DJT”
238. Trump: “Basically what we’re doing is equalizing. It’s a new word that I came up, which I think is probably the best word.”
239. Trump: “A friend of mine who is a businessman. Very very very top guy. Most of you would’ve heard of him. Highly neurotic. Brilliant businessman. Seriously overweight. And he takes the fat shot drug.”
11 May 2025
-1: Stephen Miller declares “Democrats have become deeply and dangerously radicalized” [232]
-1: Headline: How the US president and his clan ushered in a new golden age of corruption (The Observer)
-1: Headline: Trump defends the prospect of Qatar gifting him a plane to use as Air Force One (AP News)
-1: Headline: Green Card Holder From Germany ‘Free’ After Two Months of ICE Detention (Newsweek)
Reference
232. Miller: “The conduct of the Democrat Party in vilifying, demonizing and attacking our brave ICE officers has created an extraordinarily perilous environment for our ICE heroes. Democrats have become deeply and dangerously radicalized.”
10 May 2025
-1: Headline: Lawyer who prosecuted Trump hauled in front of House judiciary committee (The Guardian)
-1: Headline: Trump envoy relied on Kremlin interpreter in meetings with Putin to end war in Ukraine (NBC)
-1: Headline: Senate passes “cruel” Republican plan to block Wi-Fi hotspots for schoolkids (Ars Technica)
-1: Headline: Trump admin ends extreme weather database that has tracked cost of disasters since 1980 (CNN)
-1: Headline: Trump fires director of U.S. Copyright Office (CBS)
