The Trump administration is pursuing deals across up to 30 industries, involving dozens of companies deemed critical to national or economic security, according to more than a half dozen people familiar with the talks. Just as important as the deals themselves is the optics – they must be announced from the White House, two sources said. The White House declined to comment on Eli Lilly's announcement or on specific details of the administration's plans. It's all part of what White House spokesman Kush Desai has described as a "whole-of-government approach" to dealmaking "to safeguard our national and economic security." When asked for interviews with Klomp and Brooks, an HHS spokesperson referred Reuters' request to the White House.