David Ricks, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Lilly, was speaking in the Oval Office when a competing executive, Gordon Findlay, of Novo Nordisk, collapsed live on air, in front of the group of journalists covering Donald Turmp. The president was present in the room, and followed the speeches, which lasted more than an hour, sitting at his table and with obvious difficulty maintaining attention.
“Gordon, are you okay?” Ricks asked, as Findlay collapsed and Robert Kennedy, Secretary of Health, quickly left the office, with a somewhat incomprehensible reaction. White House press secretaries then asked reporters to leave the scene.
It has not yet emerged what the reason for Findlay’s fainting was.
He, along with other executives from large pharmaceutical companies, went to the White House on Thursday to witness the announcement of the deal in which the Trump administration will lower the price of Wegoby and other drugs that have been extremely popular in recent years, thanks to their success in weight loss. They are used by millions of Americans.
“During the announcement in the Oval Office, a representative of one of the companies fainted. The medical team acted quickly and the man is fine. The press briefing will resume shortly,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. Soon Trump was back at the table answering reporters’ questions.
