President Donald Trump on Thursday demanded that the chief executives of 17 pharmaceutical companies lower their drug prices for U.S. consumers or else face “every tool in our arsenal.”

Trump issued the threat in 17 separate letters posted on Truth Social. Among the recipients were CEOs Albert Bourla of Pfizer, Robert Davis of Merck, Joaquin Duato of Johnson & Johnson, and Pascal Soriot of AstraZeneca.

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“Make no mistake: a collaborative effort towards achieving global pricing parity would be the most effective path for companies, the government, and American patients,” Trump wrote. “But if you refuse to step up, we will deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices.”

The chief executives were asked to prioritize “most-favored-nation” pricing, meaning the pharmaceutical companies will lower their drug prices to match the prices in foreign nations. The White House cited data showing brand-name drugs in the United States are up to three times more expensive than identical drugs in other similarly developed nations.

Trump demanded that the companies extend his cheaper pricing plan to every Medicaid patient and guarantee the lower pricing for every new drug, among other changes.

The White House gave the Big Pharma heads until Sept. 29 to implement the changes.

In May, the president signed an executive order tasking agency leaders with creating the most-favored-nation pricing model to end “global freeloading” and “price discrimination” against U.S. patients. If drug manufacturers do not comply, the directive vows “additional aggressive action.” Thursday’s demands follow up on that order.

The U.S., which comprises less than 5% of the global population, contributes roughly 75% to global pharmaceutical profits, according to the executive order.

PUSH TO REIN IN REDUCED DRUG COST PROGRAM HAS BIG PHARMA’S FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz are prepared to implement the new terms if the pharmaceutical heads agree, Trump said.

“Americans are demanding lower drug prices, and they need them today,” he concluded. “Other nations have been freeloading on U.S. innovation for far too long; it is time they pay their fair share.”