...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A man collapsed behind President Donald Trump during an Oval Office press conference on Thursday with drugmakers to expand coverage and reduce prices for popular obesity treatments Zepbound and Wegovy.
Officials rushed to help him after his collapse, and the press was quickly removed. As he collapsed, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz supported his head as he was lowered to the floor.
It was unclear what caused the collapse. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later told reporters that the man was a guest of one of the health care companies in attendance, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
Read More on Politics
Leavitt said in a statement, “During the Most Favored Nations Oval Office Announcement, a representative with one of the companies fainted. The White House Medical Unit quickly jumped into action, and the gentleman is okay. The Press Conference will resume shortly.”
Approximately an hour later, Trump resumed the weight-loss drug event after the participant fainted. The man did not return to the Oval Office. Trump said the gentleman was feeling lightheaded but is OK now.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for additional comment via email.
...
Medicare to Cover Obesity Drugs as Trump Seeks to Cut Costs
President Trump announced a deal Thursday with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand Medicare coverage and reduce prices for popular obesity drugs Zepbound and Wegovy. The medications, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have surged in demand but remain costly — about $500 a month — with limited insurance coverage. Under the agreement, Medicare will begin covering the drugs for obesity next year, and new pill versions could cost $149 a month if approved.
The move is part of Trump’s broader effort to address voters’ concerns about high living costs and prescription prices ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Officials said some price reductions will also apply to patients without coverage through a new TrumpRx program, starting at $350 and dropping to $245 within two years. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk confirmed they will offer discounted doses, though it remains unclear how much savings consumers will see.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised the deal, calling obesity “a disease of poverty.” Trump said the plan would “save lives” and “improve the health of millions,” positioning it as a landmark step toward making effective weight-loss treatments more accessible to Americans.
...
Updates: 11/6/25, 3:01 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
Updates: 11/6/25, 3:17 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Correction: Novo Nordisk executive Gordon Findlay was originally identified in this story as the person who collapsed, sourcing members of the working press at the event. Novo Nordisk told Newsweek in a statement, "CEO Mike Doustdar and EVP, US Operations, Dave Moore were the only two Novo Nordisk representatives in the Oval Office. We hope the gentleman who suffered a medical incident today is okay."
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines