Trump Announces Action Against Drug Ads on Television and Social Platforms

The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping plan to regulate pharmaceutical advertising on television and social media, a move that could reshape billions of dollars in ad spending. The initiative includes stricter disclosure of side effects, tougher enforcement against misleading promotions, and extending broadcast standards to social media platforms. Officials say the goal is to improve transparency for patients, while critics warn of financial impacts on drugmakers and media companies alike.

New Rules to Strengthen Oversight

President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing federal health agencies to strengthen rules around pharmaceutical advertising. The changes will require drugmakers to disclose more side effects in ads and ensure compliance with existing regulations.

According to senior officials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to issue 100 cease-and-desist letters and thousands of warning letters to companies accused of misleading advertising practices. This aggressive enforcement signals a major shift in how drug promotions will be monitored moving forward.

Why Pharmaceutical Ads Are in the Spotlight

The United States and New Zealand are the only countries that allow direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. The practice has long been controversial, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushing for tighter regulations. While the new rules stop short of banning such ads, they aim to hold companies accountable for accuracy and transparency.

Drug ads are a massive business. In 2024, pharmaceutical companies spent $10.8 billion on consumer advertising, according to MediaRadar. Major players like AbbVie and Pfizer dominate spending, with AbbVie alone investing $2 billion in ads for blockbuster drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq, which generated $6.5 billion in revenue in Q2 2025.

Concerns Over Side Effect Disclosures

A senior administration official confirmed that new regulations may require longer broadcast ads to fully disclose potential side effects. This would mark a return to stricter standards similar to those in place before 1997, when FDA loosened advertising rules.

Back then, companies had to list every possible side effect, making ads longer and more expensive. The 1997 change allowed firms to disclose fewer risks while directing patients to doctors, websites, or hotlines for more details. This shift paved the way for a surge in TV pharma ad spending.

By 2024, nearly 59% of pharmaceutical ad budgets were spent on TV, making pharma the third-highest spending industry in the medium.

Social Media Ads Under the Scanner

The Trump administration also plans to regulate pharmaceutical promotions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

The FDA last issued draft guidance for online drug advertising in 2014, but it has not been updated despite the explosion of influencer-driven promotions in recent years. A 2023 Bloomberg Law investigation revealed that the FDA had issued only a handful of warnings regarding questionable pharma ads on social media, with none referencing TikTok.

This is significant as TikTok has become a hub for weight-loss drug promotions, often featuring influencers and sponsored posts by telehealth companies. Research firm Emarketer projected pharma industry online ad spending would exceed $19 billion in 2024, fueled largely by demand for diabetes and weight-loss drugs.

Telehealth Companies Face Stricter Scrutiny

Another key focus of the crackdown is the role of telehealth companies. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical firms, these businesses advertise directly to consumers for conditions like obesity, erectile dysfunction, and hair loss.

Officials referenced a Super Bowl ad by Hims & Hers Health Inc., which drew criticism from lawmakers for failing to disclose crucial safety information. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to the FDA, questioning the ad’s compliance.

The Trump administration’s new “Make America Healthy Again” strategy highlights that agencies including HHS, FDA, FTC, and DOJ will increase oversight of ads from both telehealth firms and social media influencers.

Balancing Transparency and Patient Access

Proponents of drug advertising argue that such promotions encourage patients to seek medical advice, but critics stress that ads often highlight expensive, brand-name drugs while downplaying risks. By enforcing stricter guidelines, the administration hopes to give patients a clearer understanding of side effects and treatment options.

Conclusion

The Trump administration’s crackdown on pharmaceutical advertising represents the most significant policy shift in decades for the industry. By extending enforcement to social media and telehealth firms while demanding full transparency in drug ads, the White House aims to protect consumers and ensure accountability. However, with billions of dollars in ad spending at stake, both drugmakers and media companies are bracing for the economic ripple effects.