President Donald Trump lightened the mood in the Oval Office on Tuesday after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sneezed in the middle of his press conference.
Trump was outlining his administration’s plan to slash drug prices when Kennedy covered his face and sneezed into his elbow. Without missing a beat, Trump turned and said, “God bless you, Bobby.”
Then he paused and quipped, “I hope I didn’t just catch COVID just there. Do you have a Paxlovid? Paxlovid? GIVE ME A PAXLOVID, IMMEDIATELY!” The room erupted in laughter.
The moment came as Trump was announcing a sweeping deal with Pfizer. The pharmaceutical company committed to investing $70 billion in U.S. drug manufacturing, a move the administration says will cut reliance on foreign supply chains and bring down costs for American families.
The White House also rolled out its new TrumpRX program, which will let Americans buy medications directly from the government at discounted prices instead of going through insurers.
Pfizer’s commitment, Trump said, is only the beginning. He signaled his administration would be working with other drugmakers to expand the list of affordable medications available through the new system.