Addressing Republican lawmakers, Trump said the United States has “subsidised global healthcare for decades” and argued that his “Most Favoured Nation” (MFN) policy compelled foreign governments to fall in line quickly.

He claimed Americans pay up to “14 times more” for medicines than consumers in countries such as France.

According to Trump, he asked Macron to raise France’s drug prices so that US consumers would no longer bear a disproportionate burden.

When the French leader initially refused, Trump said he issued an ultimatum: either comply or face a 25 per cent tariff on all French goods, including wine and champagne.

Recounting the episode, Trump mimicked Macron in a rare onstage impression, saying the French president pleaded with him to drop the tariff threat.

Trump claimed France subsequently agreed to raise prescription drug prices from about $10 per pill to $30, while prices in the US fell.

“Every country said the same thing,” Trump added, claiming other foreign leaders also agreed to sharply raise drug prices within minutes of facing similar tariff threats.

Trump said the tariff he threatened was “42 times more expensive” than what he was asking for, describing the strategy as highly effective leverage in negotiations.

Neither Macron nor the French government has issued an immediate response to Trump’s remarks.

The comments come as Trump pushes his MFN policy, which seeks to lower US prescription drug prices by tying Medicare payments to the lowest prices charged by drug manufacturers in other developed nations.

Trump has claimed the policy would lead to dramatic price cuts and said reduced drug prices would be available starting January through a new government website, TrumpRx.gov.