Trump: end filibuster, Eli Lilly &Novo Nordisk Most Favored Nation rates from $1350 to $50! Medicare

President Trump delivered two major developments. On the filibuster, Trump called for ending it — arguing Republicans could pass voter ID, mail-in ballot reform, border legislation, tax cuts, and more if not for the 60-vote threshold. Trump warned that Democrats would eliminate the filibuster when they regain power anyway (and do it “immediately”), so Republicans should do it first. Trump noted Democrats would use post-filibuster power to make Puerto Rico and DC states (adding 4 senators and electoral votes), pack the Supreme Court, and permanently shift political balance. Only Manchin and Sinema stopped Democrats from doing this during Biden’s term. On pharmaceuticals, Trump announced Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk agreed to sell GLP-1 weight loss drugs (Wegovy, Zepbound) at Most Favored Nation rates to American patients — Wegovy dropping from $1,350/month to ultimately $250/month; Zepbound from $1,080 to $346. Medicare and Medicaid will now cover these drugs with copays as low as $50. Future oral GLP-1 drugs will be capped at $149/month. All drugs available directly to consumers at TrumpRx.gov. Trump: “I think it’s time for them to end the filibuster and just put everybody back to work.” On Democrats: “They’re going to make Puerto Rico a state. They’re going to make DC a state. They’re going to pack the court.” On drugs: “This will slash the cost of Wegovy from $1,350 a month, to ultimately $250 a month.”

End the Filibuster

Trump’s first major framework: end the Senate filibuster. “I think it’s time for them to end the filibuster and just put everybody back to work.”

The Senate filibuster requires 60 votes to pass most legislation (versus the constitutional simple majority). With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats, filibuster rules let Democrats block most major legislation — including the current shutdown-ending clean CR.

Trump’s argument: end the filibuster, pass legislation with simple Republican majority, solve multiple problems simultaneously.

What Republicans Could Pass

“Vote in voter ID, vote in no mail-in voting except for military, far away military, and people that are very sick.”

Trump’s election integrity framework:

• Voter ID (require government ID at polling places)
• Eliminate mail-in voting (except for military and medical exceptions)
• Clean up election infrastructure

“No, I’d like to see one day voting. I’d like to see not 65 days of voting from all over the place.”

Trump’s preference: single Election Day, not extended voting periods spread across two-plus months. Many states now have 30+ days of early voting, plus mail-in periods.

“No, I’d like to clean up the elections.”

Immigration Rules

“The border, we’ve done a great job. We have a great strong border now. I’d like to see new rules on immigration that can be fair and good.”

Trump acknowledged border security success, but noted additional legislation is needed — legal immigration reform, asylum process reform, enforcement codification.

“But rules that you’ll never get, rules that they’re never going to get.”

Trump’s framework: without filibuster, Republicans could pass immigration rules that Democrats would never agree to (but that the public supports).

Tax Cuts and More

“There’s so many things we could put in, including tax cuts that we could get and we could do it all ourselves. But to do that, you have to end the filibuster.”

Additional tax cuts, specific middle-class benefits, economic policies — all unavailable under filibuster rules when Democrats block them.

”They’ll Do It Anyway”

“The filibuster is, and they’ll do it too, they’ll immediately do it.”

Trump’s argument: Democrats will eliminate the filibuster when they regain majority. They will do it immediately. Holding Republican reverence for filibuster norms is strategically naive.

“They’re going to, what they’re going to do is, what the Democrats will do is they’re going to make Puerto Rico a state. They’re going to make DC a state. They’re going to back the court.”

Whisper rendered “pack the court” as “back the court” — Trump’s meaning is court packing (expanding SCOTUS beyond 9 justices to dilute conservative majority).

Democratic post-filibuster agenda per Trump:

• Puerto Rico statehood (adds 2 senators, likely Democratic)
• DC statehood (adds 2 senators, heavily Democratic)
• Supreme Court packing (adds Democratic-appointed justices)
• Electoral vote expansion (territorial changes)

“They’re going to end up with more electoral votes. They’re going to end up with four senators because of the two states.”

4 additional senators permanently, all Democratic. Substantial electoral vote addition. Permanent Democratic electoral dominance.

Manchin and Sinema

“And they’re going to do this 100%. They would have done it except Manchin and Sinema got in their way. They would have done it.”

Former Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) blocked Democratic efforts to eliminate the filibuster during Biden’s term. Both subsequently left the Democratic Party (Manchin became independent, Sinema became independent).

Trump’s framework: Manchin and Sinema are gone. Democrats no longer have internal brake on filibuster elimination. Next Democratic Senate majority will do it.

“So if they’re going to do it, I would do it. I would do it before them.”

Trump’s strategic logic: if the filibuster will be eliminated anyway, Republicans should do it first while they hold majority. Use the tool before Democrats do.

Medicare GLP-1 Coverage

Trump pivoted to the drug pricing announcement. “Just as significantly Medicare and Medicaid will finally cover the cost of these weight loss drugs for millions of patients suffering from obesity.”

Medicare has historically NOT covered weight-loss drugs. Obesity treatment was considered cosmetic, not medical. Under Trump’s framework, GLP-1 drugs (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro) are recognized as medical necessity.

“Copays for Medicare patients will be as low as $50. This is tremendous savings. I mean, now you’re talking about from $1,350 to $50. This is tremendous news for the American seniors.”

$50 copay vs $1,350 list price = 96% reduction for Medicare patients. Seniors with obesity (substantial population) gain access to effective weight loss medications they previously couldn’t afford.

1,000% Cut

“And you all remember what I had one eighth of 1% for the year. I got one eighth of it, and I was so thrilled.”

Trump referenced his first term’s drug price efforts — minor reductions he was pleased to achieve at the time.

“But now we’re cutting it 1,000%, 1,200%. Nobody’s ever said anything like this. Nobody else could have done it, but I say that modestly.”

Trump’s framework: current achievements dwarf prior efforts. No previous president achieved comparable drug price reductions.

Pharma Agreement

“Starting today, the other countries are not happy with us. I don’t think they like me too much, Bobby, but it’s okay. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are committee golfers, Zepbets and WeGoVie at most favorite nations, rates for American patients.”

Whisper garbled: “committed to offer Zepbound and Wegovy at Most Favored Nation rates.” Bobby reference is RFK Jr. (HHS Secretary).

Most Favored Nation pricing: American patients get the same price as the cheapest market globally. Currently Americans pay more than any other country for these drugs. MFN brings U.S. prices to global lowest.

“This will slash the cost of WeGoVie from $1,350 a month, to ultimately $250 a month. $1,350 to $250.”

Wegovy (Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 for weight loss):

• Previous price: $1,350/month
• New MFN price: $250/month
• 81% reduction

“Did I do a good job? They don’t write about it. You know, they like to not write these things.”

Trump’s frustration with media: major drug price reduction achievements receive minimal coverage compared to criticism.

“And reduce, you think anybody, you think Biden could have done this? I don’t think so.”

Zepbound Pricing

“And reduce the monthly cost of Zepbets from $1,080 to $346.”

Whisper rendered “Zepbound” as “Zepbets.” Zepbound (Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 for weight loss):

• Previous price: $1,080/month
• New price: $346/month
• 68% reduction

Future GLP-1s

“In addition, they’re both committing that future TLP-1 weight loss drugs taken orally, which are currently under development, will be sold at no more than $149 a month.”

Whisper rendered “GLP-1” as “TLP-1.” Future oral GLP-1 drugs:

• Price cap: $149/month
• Reduction from current injectable pricing: 89%+

Oral GLP-1 formulations are in Phase 3 trials. These would eliminate the needle-injection requirement and improve adherence. FDA approval expected in 2026-2027.

“It’s a massive thing of that. You go from $1,300 to $149 a month. We anticipate these new versions will be coming out in a very short period of time.”

TrumpRx.gov

“All of these drugs will be available directly to the consumer at trumprx.gov.”

TrumpRx.gov — a direct-to-consumer drug purchasing portal. Consumers bypass insurance, pharmacy benefit managers, and traditional retail pharmacy to access drugs at MFN pricing.

The infrastructure exists because Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have both launched direct-to-consumer channels. TrumpRx.gov federalizes and systematizes the approach.

Significance

Trump’s dual announcements represented major policy framework shifts:

Filibuster: Ending it would enable single-party legislation across a range of Republican priorities. The political cost: Democrats would use the same tool when they regain majority. Trump’s calculation: the risk of Democratic post-filibuster activity is inevitable; better to get Republican priorities done first.

Drug Pricing: Most Favored Nation pricing combined with Medicare/Medicaid coverage and direct-to-consumer delivery represents a fundamental restructuring of American pharmaceutical distribution. The 68-96% price reductions on major drugs would transform household budgets for millions of patients.

Both announcements were characteristic Trump — ambitious, disruptive, policy-changing. Both would face intense opposition from entrenched interests. Both represented promises kept from the 2024 campaign.

Key Takeaways

• Trump on filibuster: “It’s time for them to end the filibuster and just put everybody back to work. Vote in voter ID, vote in no mail-in voting except for military … I’d like to see one day voting … I’d like to clean up the elections.”
• Trump on Democratic post-filibuster agenda: “They’re going to make Puerto Rico a state. They’re going to make DC a state. They’re going to pack the court. They’re going to end up with more electoral votes. They’re going to end up with four senators because of the two states. And they’re going to do this 100%. They would have done it except Manchin and Sinema got in their way.”
• Trump on GLP-1 coverage: “Medicare and Medicaid will finally cover the cost of these weight loss drugs for millions of patients suffering from obesity. Copays for Medicare patients will be as low as $50 … now you’re talking about from $1,350 to $50.”
• Trump on Wegovy/Zepbound pricing: “This will slash the cost of Wegovy from $1,350 a month, to ultimately $250 a month … reduce the monthly cost of Zepbound from $1,080 to $346.”
• Trump on future oral drugs and TrumpRx: “Future TLP-1 [GLP-1] weight loss drugs taken orally, which are currently under development, will be sold at no more than $149 a month … All of these drugs will be available directly to the consumer at trumprx.gov.”