A California Democrat has shocked the woke elite by embracing President Trump’s bold plan to slash prescription drug prices.
Rep. Ro Khanna, typically a thorn in Trump’s side, proposed legislation Wednesday to codify the president’s executive order aimed at making Americans pay no more for meds than folks overseas, as Fox News reports. Who knew a blue-state darling could see the light?
Khanna’s bill seeks to lock in Trump’s order, which also empowers Cabinet secretaries to crack down on Big Pharma’s price-gouging. This rare bipartisan move comes despite Khanna’s loud opposition to Trump’s tariff and deportation policies. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
In a House floor speech, Khanna urged Republicans to co-sponsor his bill, waving the white flag of common sense. He’s not wrong -- Trump tried a similar drug price cut before, only to be stalled by Big Pharma’s legal tantrums. Actions have consequences, and Khanna’s betting on voters noticing.
“President Trump’s executive order says Americans should pay the least price,” Khanna told Fox News Digital. That’s a refreshing admission from a Biden 2024 surrogate who’s now singing a different tune. The woke crowd must be clutching their pearls.
Khanna’s not just posturing -- he’s got history with drug price reform, having teamed up with Sen. Bernie Sanders on similar legislation. Yet, his sudden Trump fandom feels like a plot twist nobody saw coming. Maybe he’s tired of Big Pharma’s $16 billion lobbying stranglehold. “If Trump has a good idea, we should work with him,” Khanna said. That’s a brave stance for a Democrat eyeing a 2028 presidential run. The party’s purists will likely cry “traitor” before breakfast.
Khanna’s bill isn’t some sneaky rewrite -- it mirrors Trump’s language to the letter. “It’s President Trump’s idea, his executive order, his language into law,” he declared. For once, a politician isn’t trying to steal the credit.
Republicans, Khanna argues, should jump on board since it’s their guy’s plan. “I just don’t understand why any Republican wouldn’t support this,” he said. He’s got a point -- opposing cheaper drugs is a tough sell, even for the staunchest partisan.
Democrats, meanwhile, are licking their wounds after losing the White House, Senate, and House last year. Khanna’s willingness to play ball with Trump shows he’s not afraid to break ranks. Unlike some colleagues, he’s putting people over party.
Big pharma’s lobbyists, who dropped $16 billion last year, won’t take this lying down. Trump’s earlier attempt got bogged down in court, and Khanna knows codifying the order is the only way to make it stick. The swamp doesn’t drain itself, after all.
“Are you on the side of the people, or the $16 billion in Big pharma money?” Khanna challenged. That’s a zinger aimed straight at Capitol Hill’s wallet. Voters might just remember who stood up for their pocketbooks.
Khanna hasn’t spoken directly to Trump about the bill, but he’s not waiting for an invitation. His appearance on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum showed he’s ready to defend this move publicly. Confidence like that could carry him far.
Khanna’s also reflecting on his party’s recent flops, admitting that Joe Biden’s truncated 2024 re-election run was a mistake. “We should be honest as a party that we made a mistake,” he said. Admitting failure? That’s rarer than a unicorn in Washington.
“There should have been an open primary,” Khanna added, calling for accountability. He’s not wrong -- Democrats’ loyalty to Biden cost them dearly. Maybe Khanna’s learning that pandering to the base doesn’t always pay off.
Like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who caught flak for working with Trump, Khanna is catching heat for this bipartisan gambit. But if cheaper drugs are the result, voters might forgive a little political heresy. In the end, results trump ideology every time.
