Donald Trump is no stranger to bold claims. From âfixingâ 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.
Trumpâs order on US drug prices
During a White House press conference this week, Donald Trump stood tall in the Oval Office and explained his administrationâs plan to slash prescription drug prices by up to 80%, aiming to match the costs seen in Europe.
Trump, 78, called it âone of the most consequentialâ executive actions in U.S. history as he directed pharmaceutical companies to slash prices for American patients.
âThe rest of the world is going to have to pay a bit more, and Americaâs going to pay a lot less. Again, because it is a smaller population than when you think of the whole world,â 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)
âSo basically what we are doing is equalizing. Itâs a new word that I came up with, which I think is probably the best word,â Trump said. âWeâre gonna equalize. Weâre all gonna pay the same. Weâre gonna pay what Europeâs gonna pay.â
Hold up. Did he say âequalizingâ is a new word?
According to historians (and just about everyone whoâs ever opened a book), the word âequaliseâ has been around for centuries. Literally. As in, long before Trump Tower ever existed.
The meaning of the ânewâ word
On TikTok, tech and language enthusiast Farrukh Younus chimed in with a quick reality check: âPresident Trump says he came up with a new word: equalise. Meanwhile back in reality, the word âequaliseâ was first recorded in English in the late 15th century, around circa 1480â1500.â
He even broke it down:
âIt comes from the Late Latin word aequalizare, meaning âto make equalâ, which in turn is derived from aequalis (equal). Latin root: aequalis = equal. Late Latin: aequalizare = to make equal. English adoption: around 1480â1500 as equalise.â
If that wasnât enough, Merriam-Webster says âequalizingâ dates back to at least 1559. And no, Trump isnât that old.
âThere was a TV show in the 80sâŠâ
Naturally, social media had a field day.
One user joked: âIâm sure Iâd heard that âequaliseâ word before?!â
Another chimed in with a bit of 80s nostalgia: âThere was a TV show in the 80s named The Equalizer. Did he invent the word in 1983 and is just reminiscing?â
But hey, this wouldnât be the first time Trump tried to crown himself king of something. He recently joked that heâd like to be the next Pope â 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 â but letâs be honest, weâve seen stranger things happen in politicsâŠ
