Donald Trump is well-known for making bold declarations — from transforming the economy to having the "best words." But his latest claim might just top the list for sheer audacity.
Trump’s New Plan on Drug Prices
At a recent White House press conference, Trump unveiled an ambitious executive order aimed at dramatically reducing prescription drug prices in the U.S. by as much as 80%. The goal? To align American drug costs with the significantly lower prices seen in Europe.
Calling it “one of the most consequential” actions of his presidency, the 78-year-old former president said pharmaceutical companies would be required to cut costs for American consumers.
“The rest of the world is going to have to pay a bit more, and America’s going to pay a lot less,” Trump stated. “Again, because it is a smaller population than when you think of the whole world.”
But what really grabbed attention wasn’t the policy — it was his peculiar word choice.
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| U.S. President Donald J. Trump attends a signing ceremony at the Amiri Diwan, the official workplace of the emir, on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) |
“Equalizing”: A Trump Original?
“So basically what we are doing is equalizing,” Trump said. “It’s a new word that I came up with, which I think is probably the best word. We’re gonna equalize. We’re all gonna pay the same. We’re gonna pay what Europe’s gonna pay.”
Wait — did he just claim to invent the word equalizing?
As it turns out, not only is equalize not a new word, it’s been part of the English language for over 500 years.
A Quick History Lesson
Tech and language enthusiast Farrukh Younus took to TikTok to set the record straight:
“President Trump says he came up with a new word: equalize. Meanwhile, back in reality, the word was first recorded in English around 1480–1500.”
Younus even traced its linguistic roots:
- Latin root: aequalis = equal
- Late Latin: aequalizare = to make equal
- English adoption: circa 1480–1500 as equalise
Merriam-Webster supports this, listing the earliest use of equalizing as dating back to 1559 — long before Trump or even the United States existed.
Social Media Reacts
Naturally, the internet couldn’t resist weighing in.
“I’m sure I’d heard that ‘equalise’ word before?!” one user joked.
Another referenced 80s pop culture: “There was a TV show in the 80s called The Equalizer. Did he invent the word in 1983 and is just now remembering?”
Trump’s Flair for Reinvention
This isn’t the first time Trump has raised eyebrows with grandiose or outlandish statements. Recently, he even joked about wanting to become the next Pope — and shared an AI-generated image of himself in full papal regalia. Though he denied making the image, it was still posted to his official social media accounts.
So, will dictionaries someday credit Donald Trump for inventing equalizing? Unlikely. But in today’s political climate, stranger things have certainly happened.
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