Donald Trump has never shied away from making grandiose statements. Whether it’s about boosting the economy or claiming a superior vocabulary, the former U.S. President always manages to grab attention.
However, his latest pronouncement might be the most perplexing to date.
Trump’s New Policy on Dr.ug Pricing
In a recent White House press conference, Trump announced an ambitious plan to cut prescription drug prices in the U.S. by as much as 80%, aligning them with prices seen in European countries.
Describing it as one of the most impactful executive orders in American history, the 78-year-old directed pharmaceutical companies to lower costs for American consumers.
“The rest of the world will pay more, and America will pay significantly less. Again, it’s a smaller population compared to the rest of the world,” he stated.
Then came the part that raised eyebrows — and prompted a flurry of dictionary searches.
“We’re doing something I call equalizing. It’s a new word I came up with, and I think it’s the best word,” Trump declared. “We’re going to equalize. Everyone’s going to pay the same. We’ll match Europe’s prices.”
Wait — Did He Say He Invented “Equalizing”?
Linguists and history buffs were quick to point out that the term “equalize” is hardly new. In fact, it’s been in use for centuries, long before the Trump brand was ever established.
Tech and language commentator Farrukh Younus responded on TikTok with a historical correction: “President Trump claims he coined the word ‘equalize,’ but it’s actually been part of the English language since the late 15th century — somewhere between 1480 and 1500.”
He even offered a mini etymology lesson:
- Latin root: aequalis = equal
- Late Latin: aequalizare = to make equal
- English usage: around 1480–1500
To top it off, Merriam-Webster notes that “equalizing” has been documented in English since at least 1559, which, needless to say, predates Trump by several hundred years.
Cue the Internet’s Reaction
The internet didn’t let this one slide. Social media erupted with humorous takes:
One user quipped, “Pretty sure I’ve heard that word before…”
Another referenced pop culture: “Didn’t we have a TV show in the 80s called The Equalizer? Maybe Trump came up with it back then?”
And in classic Trump fashion, this isn’t the first time he’s attempted to claim novelty. He recently made waves by joking that he’d make a great Pope — even sharing an AI-generated image of himself in papal robes.
Although he later denied making the image, it somehow appeared on his official social media accounts.
Whether Trump will one day be credited with “inventing” the word equalize is unlikely, but then again, politics has delivered stranger surprises.
