Biden Takes Victory Lap on Drug Pricing in First Joint Rally with Harris Since Exiting Presidential Race

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared at a Maryland rally on Thursday to celebrate the success of Medicare’s drug price negotiation efforts. The event marked the pair’s first joint appearance since Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris as his replacement.

Biden’s so-called “Inflation Reduction Act,” which he signed in 2022, gave Medicare the ability to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

The president announced Thursday that Medicare had reached agreements with manufacturers of ten drugs selected for price negotiation: Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia, Farxiga, Entresto, Enbrel, Imbruvica, Stelara, and FIASP. The drugs treat a variety of conditions, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and blood clots.

The price of each prescription was lowered by anywhere from 38 to 79 percent.

“And folks, this is only the first ten,” Biden said in a post on X Thursday. “We’re not stopping here.”

The new negotiated prices are expected to save taxpayers $6 billion on prescription drug costs, according to the White House, while people enrolled in Medicare are expected to save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2026, when the new prices take effect. 

Biden used his time on the stump Thursday to blast Republicans for voting against his “Inflation Reduction Act” and to criticize the party over the Heritage Foundation’s conservative policy initiative, the Project 2025 plan. Former president Donald Trump has repeatedly disavowed the plan. 

“I know nothing about Project 2025,” Trump said last month. “I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

Still, Biden told the crowd on Thursday that they “may have heard about the MAGA Republican Project 2025 plan.”

“They want to repeal Medicare’s power to negotiate drug prices,” Biden said. “Let big Pharma back to charge whatever they want. Let me tell you what our Project 2025 is: beat the hell out of them. I mean it!”

Biden also told attendees of the event that Harris will make “one hell of a president” and took jabs at Trump: “The guy we’re running against, what’s his name? Donald Dump? Donald … whatever.”

The Trump campaign criticized Biden’s comments in a post on X.

“Biden instructs the audience to ‘beat the hell’ out of Republicans — a month after the assassination attempt against President Trump. Disgusting!” the Trump War Room account captioned a video of Biden’s remarks.