Drama briefly unfolded inside the Oval Office when a pharmaceutical executive collapsed during US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new deal on weight-loss medications.
The man, who was standing near Trump during the live event, suddenly lost his balance and fell.
Some reports initially identified him as Novo Nordisk executive Gordon Finlay, but the company swiftly clarified that was incorrect.
Eyewitnesses told The Independent UK that Dr Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, quickly intervened to prevent the man from hitting his head.
Journalists were escorted out while Cabinet members helped revive him by elevating his legs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed the incident, saying: “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.”
The event, featuring top executives from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, unveiled the administration’s partnership to make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs more affordable. Under the new agreement, popular medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound will be offered directly to consumers via TrumpRx — a government website set to launch next year.
