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Podcaster Joe Rogan joined President Trump and others in the Oval Office on Saturday as he signed an executive order accelerating research for certain psychedelic drugs used to treat mental health disorders.
“Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life,” Trump said.
The order, which also directs the Food and Drug administration (FDA) to expedite its review of new treatments, is specifically targeted at helping veterans struggling with symptoms of anxiety and depression. The president said the move applies to certain drugs, including psychedelics, that are already in the “advanced stages of clinical trials.”
Rogan said that he heard about these treatments during a taping of his podcast and sent Trump “some information” about them.
“I sent him that information. The text message that came back: ‘Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.’ Literally that quick,” the podcaster, who has been critical of the president in recent weeks over the U.S. operation in Iran, said Saturday at the White House.
Trump highlighted Ibogaine, a psychedelic drug used in other countries to treat the effects of PTSD, during his remarks. He added that the administration will be “opening the pathway” for the drug to be included under the Right to Try Act, which he signed into law in 2018.
This law allows terminally ill patients to participate in clinical trials for treatments that are still under FDA review.
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Mehmet Oz were also present during the signing ceremony.
“Under this new program in this administration, drugs can get approved in weeks, not a year or year plus, but in weeks, if they are in line with our national priorities,” Makary said.
He later noted that the program currently has 18 vouchers, and the administration will add three more next week.
“This is an unmet public health need, and there are potentially promising treatments,” Makary continued. “That’s why there’s a sense of urgency around this. That’s why we’re doing it now.”
In 2024, 471 U.S. service members died by suicide and 1,515 attempts were reported, according to the Pentagon’s annual suicide report released earlier this month. While the 2024 suicide rate among active-duty members decreased from the previous year, the department reported an uptick in suicides among members of the reserve units and the National Guard.
Trump also touted his “Most Favored Nation” initiative and TrumpRX.com platform during the event Saturday, boasting of his administration’s efforts to lower drug costs.
The president also briefly addressed Iran’s announcement that it would reimpose “strict management” of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.’s naval blockade in the waterway.
They wanted to close up the Strait again, as they’ve been doing for years, and they can’t blackmail us,” Trump said.
He added that the negotiations with Tehran are “going actually along very well.” The temporary ceasefire agreement between the two nations expires next week.
“We’ll have some information by the end of the day,” Trump told reporters. ‘We’re talking to them, and you know, we’re taking a tough stand and they killed a lot of people. A lot of our people have been killed.”
English (US) ·