Trump Touts Novartis' U.S. Expansion Plans

Swiss drugmaker says it's building 11 new plants in the U.S. after Trump meeting

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump said he met with Vas Narasimhan, the CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, at the White House on Wednesday. Trump claimed that Narasimhan told him during the meeting that Novartis is building 11 new U.S. plants as a result of the president's tariff policies. Novartis confirmed plans to expand its manufacturing and research footprint in the U.S. but did not provide specifics on the number of new facilities.

Why it matters

Novartis' reported expansion plans in the U.S. come after the Trump administration threatened to impose drug import duties, which prompted the company to previously announce $23 billion in investments to build and expand 10 facilities in the country. The new claims by Trump about 11 additional plants highlight the administration's efforts to spur domestic manufacturing, especially in the pharmaceutical industry.

The details

According to Trump, Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan told him during their White House meeting that the company is building 11 new U.S. plants. However, in a statement to Reuters, Novartis did not confirm the specific number of new facilities, only saying it has recently broken ground on new manufacturing and research sites in North Carolina, California, and Florida to expand its radioligand therapy production.

  • Trump and Narasimhan met at the White House on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • Trump discussed the Novartis expansion plans during a speech to workers at a steel plant in Rome, Georgia on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Vas Narasimhan

The CEO of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Novartis

A Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company that is one of the largest in the world.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Novartis spokesperson (Reuters)

What’s next

The details and timeline of Novartis' U.S. expansion plans remain unclear, as the company did not confirm the specific number of new plants cited by President Trump. Further updates from Novartis or the White House may provide more clarity on the scope and status of the company's domestic manufacturing investments.

The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to promote domestic manufacturing, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. While the exact details are uncertain, Novartis' reported plans to build additional U.S. facilities underscore how companies are responding to the administration's policies, including the threat of drug import tariffs.