Donald Trump is no stranger to bold claims. From “fixing” the economy to handpicking the best words, the President of the United States always has something up his sleeve.
But his latest declaration might just be the most head-scratching yet.
Trump’s order on US drug prices
During a White House press conference this week, Donald Trump stood tall in the Oval Office and explained his administration’s plan to slash prescription drug prices by up to 80%, aiming to match the costs seen in Europe.
Trump, 78, called it “one of the most consequential” executive actions in U.S. history as he directed pharmaceutical companies to slash prices for American patients.
“The rest of the world is going to have to pay a bit more, and America’s going to pay a lot less. Again, because it is a smaller population than when you think of the whole world,” he said.
But then came the moment that had people reaching for their dictionaries.
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)
“So basically what we are doing is equalizing. It’s a new word that I came up with, which I think is probably the best word,” Trump said. “We’re gonna equalize. We’re all gonna pay the same. We’re gonna pay what Europe’s gonna pay.”
Hold up. Did he say “equalizing” is a new word?
According to historians (and just about everyone who’s ever opened a book), the word “equalise” has been around for centuries. Literally. As in, long before Trump Tower ever existed.
The meaning of the ‘new’ word
On TikTok, tech and language enthusiast Farrukh Younus chimed in with a quick reality check: ”President Trump says he came up with a new word: equalise. Meanwhile back in reality, the word ‘equalise’ was first recorded in English in the late 15th century, around circa 1480–1500.”
He even broke it down:
”It comes from the Late Latin word aequalizare, meaning ‘to make equal’, which in turn is derived from aequalis (equal). Latin root: aequalis = equal. Late Latin: aequalizare = to make equal. English adoption: around 1480–1500 as equalise.”
If that wasn’t enough, Merriam-Webster says “equalizing” dates back to at least 1559. And no, Trump isn’t that old.
”There was a TV show in the 80s…”
Naturally, social media had a field day.
One user joked: ”I’m sure I’d heard that ‘equalise’ word before?!”
Another chimed in with a bit of 80s nostalgia: ”There was a TV show in the 80s named The Equalizer. Did he invent the word in 1983 and is just reminiscing?”
But hey, this wouldn’t be the first time Trump tried to crown himself king of something. He recently joked that he’d like to be the next Pope — and even posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed in full papal attire.
Though he later denied creating the image, it somehow made its way onto his official personal accounts.
Whether or not Donald Trump will actually get credit in a dictionary someday for inventing the word equalizer remains to be seen — but let’s be honest, we’ve seen stranger things happen in politics…
