Trump claims Novartis building 11 U.S. plants following tariff policies
Novartis CEO met with Trump at White House on Wednesday
Novartis confirmed meeting but didn't specify number of planned facilities
Company previously announced $23 billion investment for 10 U.S. facilities
Novartis expanding manufacturing in North Carolina, California, and Florida
📖 Full Retelling
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday in Rome, Georgia, that he had met with Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Swiss drugmaker Novartis, at the White House the previous day, claiming the company was building 11 U.S. plants in response to his tariff policies and after the administration's threats to impose drug import duties. The pharmaceutical giant confirmed the meeting in a statement to Reuters, mentioning they had updated the U.S. government on their progress, including recent groundbreakings for manufacturing and research facilities in North Carolina and California, and plans to expand their radioligand therapy manufacturing network with a new site in Florida. However, the statement notably did not specifically confirm the number of facilities planned in the U.S., leaving Trump's claim about 11 plants unverified by the company. This development comes after Novartis announced last year it planned to spend $23 billion to build and expand 10 facilities in the U.S., which appears to align with Trump's announcement about increased manufacturing investment, suggesting the company may be expanding its original plans.
Novartis AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and was the eighth largest by revenue in 2024.
Novartis manufactures the drugs clozapine (Clozaril), diclofenac (Voltaren; sold to GlaxoSm...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
Trump's meeting with Novartis CEO highlights the impact of U.S. tariff policies on pharmaceutical manufacturing. The announcement of 11 new U.S. plants signals a shift toward domestic production, potentially boosting jobs and reducing reliance on imports.
Context & Background
Trump's tariff policies on drug imports
Novartis plans $23 billion investment in U.S. facilities
Novartis expanding radioligand therapy network
U.S. manufacturing shift in healthcare sector
What Happens Next
Novartis will likely proceed with construction of the announced plants, creating new jobs and strengthening the U.S. supply chain. The company may also seek additional approvals and partnerships to expand its manufacturing footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted Novartis to build new U.S. plants?
The Trump administration's threat to impose drug import duties encouraged Novartis to invest in domestic manufacturing to avoid potential tariffs.
What is radioligand therapy?
Radioligand therapy is a targeted cancer treatment that uses radioactive molecules to deliver radiation directly to tumor cells.
How many facilities did Novartis plan to build last year?
Last year Novartis announced plans to build and expand 10 facilities in the U.S. as part of a $23 billion investment.
Original Source
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Nvidia and OpenAI close to finalizing smaller, $30 bln investment- FT U.S. stocks end lower after hawkish Fed minutes; Walmart guidance falls short Gold largely flat as investors weigh geopolitical tensions, hawkish Fed minutes Berenberg sees more than 50% upside in this small-cap software stock (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Trump meets Novartis CEO, says drugmaker building 11 US plants By Reuters Stock Markets Published 02/19/2026, 10:39 PM Updated 02/19/2026, 10:42 PM Trump meets Novartis CEO, says drugmaker building 11 US plants 0 NVS -0.88% ROME, Georgia, Feb 19 - U.S. President Donald Trump said he met Vas Narasimhan, the chief executive officer of Swiss drugmaker Novartis , at the White House on Wednesday. Trump, addressing workers at a steel plant in Rome, Georgia on Thursday, said Narasimhan told him during the meeting that his company was building 11 U.S. plants as a result of the president’s tariff policies. "We appreciate the opportunity to update the U.S. government on our progress, including recent groundbreakings for manufacturing and research facilities in North Carolina and California and plans to expand our radioligand therapy manufacturing network with a new site in Florida," a spokesperson for Novartis told Reuters in an emailed statement. The statement did not add any details on the number of facilities planned in the U.S. Last year, the Swiss drugmaker said it planned to spend $23 billion to build and expand 10 facilities in the U.S. after the Trump administration threatened to impose drug import duties.
