Alsobrooks: TrumpRx is a Scam

April 16, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) questioned witnesses in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, "Making Medicines More Affordable: How Competition Can Lower Drug Prices," about the President's failed plan to lower drug costs.

"Savings sound good-but it's important for Americans to understand the truth. Multiple reports have found that TrumpRx, the President's gimmick website, actually serves as an advertisement for expensive brand-name drugs without mentioning more affordable generic drug options that would actually save patients money. Take Albuterol for instance. It's a critical drug for anyone with asthma. My daughter has used it. If you search TrumpRx, the site takes you to the brand-name product, AIRSUPRA, and alleges that TrumpRx price would be 69% off at $156.63 for a patient, but it doesn't mention anything about generic options. Generic Albuterol inhalers go for closer to $40 retail. That's not the President saving patients money-it's the President once again taking credit for something he had nothing to do with, and scamming Americans along the way," said Senator Alsobrooks during her questioning.

WATCH SENATOR ALSOBROOKS' FULL QUESTIONING HERE

See below for one of Senator Alsobrooks' exchanges during the hearing:

Senator Alsobrooks: TrumpRx is essentially costing to some extent people money. We know that the true intent of it is not to bring down or lower costs but it is once again a scam. So what would it mean for an asthma patient, for example, that was tricked into believing that TrumpRx Albuterol price is the most affordable option available? Would that patient potentially skip taking their medication if they think they couldn't afford to fill the prescription?

Mr. Robert Weissman, J.D., Co-President, Public Citizen: 100%. We know that. So either people may not purchase at all or they might purchase it and ration it, not take it as often as they should, because they just paid so much out-of-pocket when they could've had a more affordable product even on our existing, flawed, marketplace.

Senator Alsobrooks: Like any scam, consumers using TrumpRx should pay attention to the fine print. We understand that. But TrumpRx is steering patients toward brand-name products, the site lists about 80 drugs making up just 0.2% of all FDA approved medications. Will a program with such a limited scope actually lower prices for Americans or do direct to customer consumer programs do anything to address long-term costs?

Mr. Weissman: Nothing about this is a serious effort to lower drug prices. The President has said the right thing; we shouldn't pay more than other countries do for drugs. But he has done nothing at all to advance that objective.

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