Elizabeth Warren and RFK Jr. engage in 'fiery exchange' over Trump's 'scam discounts'

CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown were stunned by a "fiery exchange" between Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The health and human services head testified Wednesday morning before the Senate Finance Committee, where Warren asked whether Kennedy would release information about tariff reductions for pharmaceutical companies whose products are sold on TrumpRx.

"For these scam discounts, President Trump has exemptedthese drug companies from his100 percent tariffs," Warren said. "So think aboutthat. Big Pharma makes billionsof dollars in tariff relief bylisting their drugs on TrumpRx, and then they don't even lowerthe costs on many of thesedrugs. That is a great deal for Big Pharma. So, Secretary Kennedy, here's my question: Did you sign off on thesesweetheart deals for Big Pharma,or was this all President Trump's idea?"

Kennedy claimed that tariff relief was available only to companies that agreed to produce their drugs in the U.S. within the following year, and Warren asked if he had negotiated those agreement and when he would make those deals available to Congress for review.

"I've alreadysaid this," Kennedy said. "I'm happy to make thedeals available, except forproprietary information andtrade secrets."

"I will hold you to that, Mr.Secretary, because if thesedeals with Big Pharma are sogreat for Americans, then weshould be able to see whatpromises have been made," Warren interjected.

"You have the power to makethis deal yourself," Kennedy complained. "Why don'tyou do that? Why did you – we didthis because you refused to doit.You have a lot more power tonegotiate than we do. We've got the lowest prices in history."

Warren continued her attempt to ask another question about TrumpRx.

"Americans are getting crushed by health care costs," the senator said, "and you and Donald Trump are actually making the problem worse. The American public deserves better."

"Not on branded drugs," Kennedy insisted.

Warren laughed out loud and mocked his reply.

"Oh, so your answer is Americans should just not take prescription drugs?" she said.

"We will be directing people to the generics, to the cheapest available," Kennedy shot back. "But a lot of doctorsprescribe the brands and we'regiving them massive reductionsin the brands."

"So those mass, mass discountsthat people can pay," Warren replied as Kennedy talked over her, "600 percent, they can pay hundreds of dollars on TrumpRx x or they can get it for $12 at Costco."

At that point, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the ranking Democrat on the finance committee, stepped in.

"This is the second instance of thesecretary denying the public'sright to know," Wyden said. "That's all thatthe members on this committeehave asked for."

CNN's producers cut away after Wyden's interruption, and the "Situation Room" hosts reacted to the testimony.

"Pretty lively exchange," Blitzer said.

"Yeah, I mean, not surprising in many ways, but certainly fiery," Brown agreed. "It's not clearly his first time being under scrutiny and a tough line of questioning from senator."

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