RFK Jr. Defends Trump's Impossible 'MAGA Math' on Drug Prices
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a wave of ridicule on social media Wednesday after defending what critics have previously mockingly dubbed the 'MAGA Math' of former President Donald Trump. The controversy erupted during a Senate hearing when Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned Trump's repeated claims that his administration has slashed prescription drug prices by figures exceeding 100% — a mathematical impossibility unless companies pay patients to take their medications.
Warren specifically noted Trump's assertion that his Trump RX website, which aims to sell discounted prescription drugs directly to patients, has 'cut prices by as much as 600%.' Kennedy attempted to explain Trump's reasoning, stating: 'President Trump has a different way of calculating… there's two ways of calculating percentage. If you have a $600 drug and you reduce it to $10, that's a 600% reduction.'
Warren did not have time to delve further into the explanation, but critics were quick to point out the fundamental error. A reduction from $600 to $10 represents a 98.33% decrease, not 600%. Social media erupted with sarcastic and incredulous responses:
- Governor Newsom Press Office tweeted: 'A different way of calculating percentages… Also known as … wrong.'
- Hemant Mehta commented: 'So… Trump math is just making numbers up. Got it.'
- Dr. Angela Rasmussen observed: 'Something tells me this math only gets used when it produces the desired result.'
- Calee B calculated: 'Reducing $600 by 600 percent results in -$3,000 (negative three thousand dollars).'
- Brian Krassenstein exclaimed: 'No, you imbecile. That's a 98.33% drop. No math besides make-believe math makes it 600%.'
Others mocked the idea of a 'different way' of calculating percentages. Dan Mitchell noted: 'We are routinely admonished to take these people seriously.' Matt Mullen added: 'So his “different way” is also known as “the wrong way” tracks across his entire administration.' @LucifersTweetz quipped: 'There are two ways to count percentages: the right way and Trump's way, which is wrong.'
The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about the administration's approach to transparency and factual accuracy. Critics argue that such mathematical gymnastics undermine trust in government communications, particularly on critical issues like healthcare costs. As one user put it: 'The 2+2=5 thing was supposed to be a metaphor; I didn't expect it would ever be taken so literally.'
