Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of either CGTN or Robert Morris University.

The President of the United States says he has the solution to the often-crippling prices Americans must pay for their prescription medicines. But is the new TrumpRx website legitimate or another con job foisted on the American public?

Before we consider that, let's acknowledge that there is no doubt Americans pay more for required medicines than citizens from European developed countries. The primary reason? For the longest time, government's zeal for deregulation meant that drug companies could essentially set prices at whatever levels they wanted knowing they would face little pushback from Washington. In Europe, by contrast, governments work with pharmaceutical companies to determine the costs of various drugs. Can you say real lower prices?

The shiny new TrumpRx website tells Americans that "the days of Big Pharma price-gouging are over. Leveraging the full weight and power of the United States of America, the President has ensured every American gets the lowest prices on prescription medications in the developed world." Americans will not buy prescriptions on the website; rather, they will gather information regarding where to go to get what should be cheap prices for the drugs they need. So will TrumpRx actually change anything?

The reality is that they can get the same drugs at quite similar prices through other direct-to-consumer websites. One analyst noted that because TrumpRx could include drug cost options from multiple pharmaceuticals, it might become a kind-of one-stop place to go. In other words, the website could be little more than a clearinghouse to gather information. And that means the website's claim of "the lowest prices on prescription medications in the developed world" is likely not fact.

The timing of the new website is important. One mainstream media news organization after another spent significant parts of Friday reporting on the website, and it would be no surprise if the influential weekend television news talk shows analyze it as well. Any attention devoted to what should be good news from the White House means the disastrous news connected to the Epstein files, which contain damaging information about influential men, including the president, and their likely sexual activities with underage girls, will get kicked to the curb. At the risk of sarcasm, distraction can be quite good when one is trying to repair an image or deflect the media's gaze.

And then there is the general public to consider. In November of this year, Americans will determine the makeup of the new Congress. Right now, Republicans have razor-thin margins in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. But the electorate is angry: Inflation remains a persistent nuisance; the rampant inequality between rich and poor is only getting worse; Americans in their 20s and 30s cannot buy a home, one of the mythical elements of the American dream; the debate about immigration too often leads to angry voices and death; potential military adventures in South America and the Middle East are generating echoes of flawed wars from earlier this century. And even though right now the polls appear to favor the Democrats, Americans could look at TrumpRx has a genuine effort by the White House – and therefore the Republicans – that warrants votes in the fall.

There are reasons to be skeptical about the president's motives. This president reeks of corruption. Three brief examples are noted here: His name adorns a new building tower in Saudi Arabia; a new hotel in Oman; and a new golf course in Vietnam. But the one that generated the most headlines was a "gift" of a 747 airplane from Qatar. President Trump suggested the plane was necessary in part because of repeated delays in getting a new presidential aircraft – Air Force One whenever the US president is on board. The current airplane was made in 1990.

Related to this, Americans should wonder how it is possible that, at least according to one reliable estimate, his net worth has spiked from an estimated $3.9 billion in 2024 to $7.3 billion roughly one year later. It is safe to say that the overwhelming number of Americans have not seen their net worth almost double in the same period. And that leads to the critical question: Is TrumpRx legit? To borrow a cliche, this White House is often all sizzle, no steak, meaning the hype makes headlines but the reality is empty. So is this another example of that? Trump gets good headlines. The Republicans get good news. Do the American people actually get anything?

Right now, there is no indication the president will financially benefit from TrumpRx. But the question has to be asked. The honest answer is not likely to come from him.

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