Pam Bondi’s False Claim That Trump Saved 75 Percent of Americans From Fentanyl Overdose Debunked

Attorney General Pam Bondi recently claimed that President Donald Trump saved 75% of Americans from fentanyl overdoses by seizing over 22 million fentanyl pills and 3,400 kilograms of fentanyl since taking office. She asserted that these seizures prevented 258 million deaths, a figure that is not only mathematically flawed but also misleading in the context of the opioid crisis.

While the danger of fentanyl is real—being significantly more potent and lethal than other opioids—the claim that Trump directly saved hundreds of millions of lives exaggerates the impact. In reality, about 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023, with approximately 70% involving fentanyl. Moreover, only around 10 million Americans misuse opioids annually, far fewer than the 258 million lives Bondi referenced.

Previous administrations have also reported large seizure numbers to illustrate fentanyl’s lethality. For example, the Biden-led Department of Justice noted that fentanyl seized in 2023 equated to over 386 million potentially deadly doses. However, there is a critical distinction between highlighting the danger of fentanyl and claiming that these seizures directly prevented an equivalent number of deaths.

Alarmingly, the Trump administration’s policies may undermine progress against the opioid crisis. Proposed budget cuts threaten funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, including those distributing naloxone, a life-saving overdose reversal drug. Additionally, plans to restructure or eliminate the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) risk dismantling critical federal responses to the epidemic.

In summary, Pam Bondi’s claim that Trump saved 75% of Americans from fentanyl overdoses is not supported by overdose statistics or drug misuse data. The administration’s actions, including funding cuts and agency restructuring, may exacerbate the crisis rather than alleviate it. Accurate data interpretation and sustained investment in prevention and treatment are essential to addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic effectively.