Statement from Margarida Jorge, campaign director for Lower Drug Prices Now, on President Trump’s maskless update from the White House balcony:
“Over 200,000 Americans are dead and more than 30 in Trump’s immediate orbit sickened because of a virus this President refuses to take seriously. Last night’s political stunt from the People’s House was yet another reminder that President Trump and his inner circle are only looking out for themselves, not the American people.
President Trump is indebted to every American taxpayer. Billions of our taxpayer dollars have gone to the drug corporations developing treatments and vaccines for the coronavirus — treatments Trump’s now receiving — all while he contributed just $750 in federal taxes, far less than the average working family.
Given increasing news reports of spreading COVID infection among members of his own Administration, it’s shocking to see President Trump return to the White House and take off his mask for another campaign photo-op, but it’s more evidence that saving lives and beating COVID are not Trump’s top priorities.
Instead of passing a COVID relief and recovery package in Congress or lowering the cost of prescription medicines, he continues to funnel more public funding to companies like Regeneron, which is led by his friend and fellow golfer Leonard Schleifer. Rather than increasing access to cutting edge medicines for people struggling with COVID around the country, the President is trying to stack the Supreme Court with a nominee that will repeal the Affordable Care Act — including prescription drug coverage for millions and discounts on Part D medicines for seniors in Medicare.”