Trump Claims Experimental Drug Revives 'Dead' Patients: What the Video Really Shows

On Monday, May 11, 2026, during a routine press event, former President Donald Trump made a statement that would have dominated headlines in any other administration. His claim: an unnamed new drug could bring patients back from the dead.

“We’ve taken people that were dead,” Trump said. “We had a person given the last rites — gone, the kids are crying and everything — and started them on this drug. And the person became better. It works.”

Trump: "We've taken people that were dead. We had a person given the last rites — gone, the kids are crying and everything — and started them on this drug. And the person became better. It works."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2026

This assertion, captured in a viral video clip, has since fueled discussions about the reliability of the claim and the broader context of the Right to Try Act, legislation passed during Trump’s first term.

How Did This Claim Emerge?

The president was discussing the Right to Try Act, a law allowing terminally ill patients to access experimental treatments not yet approved by the FDA. However, Trump’s description of the drug’s effects stretched the reality of the act’s outcomes. While rare cases of recovery do occur, his phrasing implied a near-miraculous revival, akin to a “zombie movie plot.”

Observers noted the reaction of Mehmet Oz, then Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who stood in the background during the announcement. His expression reflected the unusual nature of the claim.

The Right to Try Act: Fact vs. Fiction

The Right to Try Act, enacted in 2018, permits terminally ill patients to seek unapproved treatments. However, its effectiveness and safeguards remain controversial. A 2024 report by Stat found that patients already had access to experimental treatments before the law’s passage. The new legislation, critics argue, weakened legal protections for vulnerable patients by limiting their ability to sue for malpractice or fraud.

Trump’s remarks further blurred the lines between anecdotal success stories and the act’s actual impact, raising questions about the accuracy of his claims and the broader implications for medical ethics.