Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before a Senate committee on April 22, 2026, to discuss the administration's progress on lowering prescription drug costs.
During the hearing, Kennedy addressed questions regarding the specific mathematical formulas used by President Donald Trump to describe price reductions.
The exchange became a focal point of the session when Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned the accuracy of figures cited by the TrumpRx program.
Kennedy stated that the President utilizes a distinct methodology for calculating percentage decreases in the pharmaceutical sector.
He specifically cited an example where a drug price falling from $600 to $10 was characterized as a 600 percent reduction.
Standard mathematical principles suggest that a drop from $600 to $10 represents a decrease of approximately 98.3 percent.
Despite the discrepancy with traditional arithmetic, Kennedy maintained that the administration views these figures through a different lens.
The Health Secretary did not provide further technical details on how the 600 percent figure was derived during the public testimony.
This defense follows several public statements by President Trump claiming massive percentage cuts in medicine costs across the country.
Critics of the administration have pointed out that percentage reductions cannot mathematically exceed 100 percent of the original value.
Supporters of the TrumpRx initiative argue that the focus should remain on the actual dollar savings for consumers rather than the terminology used.
The video of the exchange quickly circulated on social media platforms, drawing significant attention from both political analysts and the general public.
Many observers noted the contrast between the administration's rhetoric and the standard economic reporting used by federal agencies.
The Senate hearing was intended to review the broader impact of the TrumpRx program on the national healthcare budget.
However, the debate over mathematical accuracy has overshadowed much of the policy discussion regarding pharmaceutical regulations.
Lawmakers expressed concern that using unconventional metrics could lead to confusion among the public regarding actual savings.
The White House has yet to issue a formal clarification on the specific calculation methods mentioned by Kennedy.
As the TrumpRx program continues its rollout, the administration remains committed to its stated goal of drastically lowering out-of-pocket costs.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between the current administration and legislative oversight committees regarding data transparency.