Ledger · Second term · № 250

over the next two weeks

Pharmaceutical tariff decision 'over the next two weeks'

Late
“I'll announce it over the next two weeks.”
Promised
, Oval Office remarks to reporters
Stated deadline
“over the next two weeks” → May 19, 2025
Re-promised
3 times with a fresh deadline
Topic
Trade & tariffs
Era
Second term

What happened

No pharmaceutical tariff rate was announced within the two weeks. Trump kept promising pharma tariffs through the summer of 2025 before announcing a 100% tariff on branded imported drugs in late September 2025, nearly five months after the deadline he set.

Sources

  1. Trump is no stranger to setting 2-week deadlines. Here's how others have played out NPR, Jun 20, 2025
  2. Two weeks' notice: Trump's deadline on Iran is a familiar one NBC News, Jun 20, 2025
  3. A Pivotal Week for Pharmaceutical Policy: Trump Administration Advances Tariff and Drug Pricing Initiatives Mintz, Oct 7, 2025