The collapse comes as Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks speaks out about new initiatives. Credit: noamgalai / Shutterstock.com
On Thursday, Nov. 6, White House announcements were temporarily suspended due to an unexpected incident in which a guest standing next to President Donald Trump fainted during a live event inside the Oval Office.
The collapse comes as Eli Lilly and Co. Chief Executive Dave Ricks is speaking out about a new initiative aimed at lowering the cost of obesity drugs in the United States. Without warning, a man near the determination desk lost consciousness and began to fall.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the current director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Trump administration, reacted immediately and caught the man before he hit the floor.
President Trump temporarily cancels Oval Office event after pharmaceutical executive suddenly faints
Several attendees rushed to support the White House staff as they directed reporters to leave the room. President Trump rose from his seat to watch the situation unfold.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reaction also drew attention. He did not seem to notice the fallen man and immediately left the room.
Shortly after, press secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters that the person was a “representative of a medical company that was present” and confirmed that he was out of danger.
“The White House medical team responded quickly and the man is in good spirits. Press conferences will resume shortly,” he said in an official statement.
Once the event resumed, President Trump downplayed the incident.
“You saw him collapse. But he’s fine. They took him out, he’s being treated, and he’s fine,” the president assured the audience, adding that attendees had been standing for more than 30 minutes before the fainting occurred.
Getty Images initially identified the man as Gordon Findlay, an executive at Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic. However, the drug company later clarified that Findlay was not present at the event.
Thursday’s briefing also included representatives from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which have been working with the government on agreements aimed at making GLP-1 drugs used for diabetes and weight loss more affordable.
This is not the first time this year that a similar incident has disrupted an Oval Office ceremony. In April, reporters were briefly evacuated after a girl fainted during Mehmet Oz’s swearing-in. Officials later confirmed that she recovered without complications.
