White House denies Trump got early access to Eli Lilly obesity drug
A 79-year-old unidentified man received early access to Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate use program, sparking speculation that the patient could be President Donald Trump, who is 79 and has expressed interest in obesity drugs. The White House initially did not deny the connection, but later explicitly stated the application was not for Trump. The story, broken by STAT News, fueled debate over the patient's identity and the propriety of the compassionate use request.
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Democrats Demand Answers After White House Denies Trump Received Experimental Weight Loss Drug
Democrats are pressing the White House for answers after it denied a STAT News report suggesting President Donald Trump may have received priority access to an experimental weight loss drug under the FDA's compassionate use program. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing concern that the rules of the federal program may have been bent to provide a well-connected individual with free access to an exclusive drug. The report noted a 79-year-old man was given an Eli Lilly weight loss drug not yet approved by the FDA. The White House aggressively denied the report, with communications director Steven Cheung calling the reporter a 'big idiot.' Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) suggested Trump may have canceled a bill signing due to side effects and even speculated about a terminal illness. The article also details Trump's recent health conditions, including bruising, swollen ankles, chronic venous insufficiency, and a weight of 238 pounds, nearly at the threshold of clinical obesity.
Forbes - BusinessWhite House Spokesperson Denies Trump Got Early Access to Weight Loss Drug After Report
A White House spokesperson, Kush Desai, strongly denied a STAT report suggesting President Donald Trump may have received early compassionate use access to the weight loss drug retatrutide. The report noted that a 79-year-old patient with refractory obesity, sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension was granted special access to the Eli Lilly drug, prompting speculation it was Trump. Desai initially did not explicitly deny the claim when asked and referred STAT to HHS, which also did not provide a denial. After the story gained national attention, Desai lashed out at reporter Lizzy Lawrence on X, calling her an 'unserious gossip columnist' and asserting the application was not for the president. Lawrence replied that she had asked multiple times without a direct answer. The article notes that Desai's handling may have raised further health questions, as a White House memo on Trump's medical evaluation does not address whether he has the cited conditions.
The New RepublicWhite House Spokesperson Denies Trump Received Special Access to Weight Loss Drug
A White House spokesperson vehemently denied on Tuesday that President Donald Trump was the 79-year-old patient who received special 'compassionate use' access to the powerful weight loss drug retatrutide, following a STAT News report that prompted widespread speculation. Spokesperson Kush Desai publicly attacked STAT reporter Lizzy Lawrence on X, accusing her of being an 'unserious gossip columnist' for noting that Desai and other officials had failed to explicitly deny the connection when initially asked. Lawrence countered that she had asked the White House, the FDA, and HHS multiple times without a direct answer. The original STAT report revealed that one 79-year-old man had received early access to the Eli Lilly drug to treat refractory obesity with obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension. When pressed on whether Trump has those conditions, Desai pointed to a White House medical memo that does not address them, fueling further questions about the president's health.
The New RepublicWhite House Denies Trump Received Exclusive Weight Loss Drug Access
The White House aggressively denied reports that President Donald Trump received exclusive access to an Eli Lilly weight loss drug through the FDA's compassionate use program. STAT News reported that a request for the drug was made in April for a 79-year-old man, whose age matched Trump's at the time. White House spokesperson Kush Desai blasted STAT on X and directed inquiries to the Health and Human Services Department, denying the application was for Trump. The story is developing.
Forbes - BusinessMystery 79-Year-Old Gets Early Access to Eli Lilly Obesity Drug; White House Doesn't Deny It's Trump
A 79-year-old unidentified man has received early access to Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate use program, as reported by STAT. The request, made by NIH senior clinician Ranganath Muniyappa in April, cited refractory obesity with obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension. The case drew attention from top health officials, indicating the patient's influence. STAT queried the White House about whether the patient could be Donald Trump, who is 79 and has expressed interest in obesity drugs. White House spokesperson Kush Desai did not deny it, instead deflecting to HHS and offering Trump's medical evaluation, which does not mention the cited conditions. HHS did not address the application or identity. The patient had previously used other obesity drugs with only moderate weight loss, and bariatric surgery was ruled out due to age and comorbidities.
The New RepublicMystery 79-Year-Old Gets Early Access to Eli Lilly Obesity Drug Amid Trump Speculation
An unidentified 79-year-old man gained premature access to Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate use program, as reported by STAT. The request, made by NIH senior clinician Ranganath Muniyappa in April, cited refractory obesity with obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary hypertension. The patient's identity remains secret, but circumstantial evidence — including the patient's age, obesity, and the unusual high-level attention the request received — led STAT to question whether the patient is former President Donald Trump, who turned 80 in June 2026. The White House did not explicitly deny the patient was Trump, with spokesperson Kush Desai initially offering evasive responses before later stating on X that the application was 'not for the president.' HHS provided a generic statement on FDA policy without addressing the specific case. The patient had previously tried other obesity drugs including tirzepatide with only moderate weight loss, and bariatric surgery was ruled out due to age and co-morbidities.
The New RepublicMystery 79-Year-Old Patient Gets Early Access to Eli Lilly Obesity Drug via FDA Compassionate Use Program
A 79-year-old unidentified man has gained early access to Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate use program, which is typically reserved for patients with life-threatening conditions. STAT News reported that an NIH clinician requested the drug for a patient diagnosed with refractory obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension. The request drew attention from top health officials, suggesting the patient is well-connected. The White House did not initially deny that the patient could be former President Donald Trump, who is also 79 and has expressed interest in obesity drugs. A later public statement clarified the application was not for Trump, but HHS and other agencies declined to confirm the patient's identity. The patient had previously tried other obesity drugs with only moderate success.
The New Republic