Donald Trump is no stranger to bold claims. Whether it’s boasting about “fixing” the economy or declaring himself the master of language, the former President always keeps us guessing.
But his latest announcement might take the cake — a claim so surprising it’s leaving everyone scratching their heads.
Trump’s order on US drug prices
At a White House press conference this week, Donald Trump stood confidently in the Oval Office, unveiling a bold plan to slash prescription drug prices by up to 80%—a move aimed at bringing U.S. costs in line with those in Europe.
Calling it “one of the most consequential” executive actions in American history, the 78-year-old former President declared that pharmaceutical companies would be required to cut 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,” Trump stated. “Again, because it is a smaller population than when you think of the whole world.”
But just as the policy details were sinking in, Trump dropped a linguistic curveball that had viewers reaching for their dictionaries.
“So basically what we’re 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.”
Wait—did he just say “equalizing” is a new word?
Historians—and anyone who’s ever cracked open a dictionary—were quick to raise an eyebrow. The word equalize has been part of the English language for centuries. As in, it was around long before Trump Tower ever graced the New York skyline.
The meaning of the ‘new’ word
On TikTok, tech and language enthusiast Farrukh Younus delivered a swift and scholarly 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—somewhere between 1480 and 1500.”
Then he broke it down like a linguistics professor with a flair for drama:
“It comes from the Late Latin aequalizare, meaning ‘to make equal,’ which itself comes from aequalis—meaning ‘equal.’
Latin root: aequalis = equal
Late Latin: aequalizare = to make equal
English adoption: around 1480–1500 as equalise”
And just in case there was still any doubt, Merriam-Webster backs it up—equalizing has been in use since at least 1559.
Spoiler alert: Trump wasn’t around back then.
”There was a TV show in the 80s…”
Naturally, social media erupted.
One user quipped, “I’m sure I’d heard that ‘equalise’ word before?!”
Another tapped into some ’80s nostalgia: “There was a TV show in the ’80s called The Equalizer. Did he invent the word in 1983 and is just reminiscing?”
Of course, this isn’t the first time Trump has tried to crown himself the originator of… well, anything. Just recently, he joked about wanting to be the next Pope — a comment followed by an AI-generated image of himself decked out in full papal regalia.
He later denied making the image, but somehow, it still found its way onto his official social accounts.
Whether or not Donald Trump ever manages to score a dictionary credit for inventing equalizer remains to be seen — but let’s be honest: in the wild world of politics, stranger things have definitely happened.
