A dramatic moment unfolded at the White House on Thursday when a man standing behind former President Donald Trump appeared to faint during a live announcement about cutting the cost of weight loss drugs.
The incident occurred inside the Oval Office as Trump, flanked by officials and company representatives, unveiled new pharmaceutical deals with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to make their popular weight loss drugs more affordable.
According to a pool report by HuffPost journalist S.V. Dáte, the unidentified man suddenly collapsed while Trump was speaking. Video footage captured Dr Mehmet Oz, who was among those in attendance, rushing to assist as others looked on in shock.
Trump, seated at the Resolute Desk at the time, rose slowly to his feet as chaos briefly interrupted the event. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was seen calmly leaving the room amid the confusion.
Moments later, order was restored and the former president returned to address the press. Trump assured reporters that the man, reportedly a representative from one of the pharmaceutical companies, had received medical attention and was doing well.
“You saw he went down,” Trump told those gathered. “And he’s fine. They just sent him out. He’s got doctors’ care. But he’s fine.”
The White House has yet to identify the individual or provide further details about his condition. However, the episode added unexpected drama to an otherwise straightforward policy announcement about expanding access to weight loss medications, which have surged in popularity across the United States.