Trump Pushes Coke to Drop Corn Syrup for Sugar \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola agreed to his request to switch U.S. Coke from high-fructose corn syrup to real cane sugar, though the company didn’t confirm. Coke has long offered cane sugar in international markets like Mexico. The move, if true, could shake up U.S. agriculture and soda production.
Quick Looks
- Trump says Coca-Cola will return to cane sugar in U.S.
- Coca-Cola has not confirmed but said details are coming
- Move would mirror Mexican and Australian Coke recipes
- Diet Coke, Trump’s favorite, remains unaffected
- Industry backlash from U.S. corn lobby over economic impact
- Trump shared news via social media post
- Coca-Cola has sold imported Mexican Coke in U.S. since 2005
- Corn Refiners Association opposes switch, warns of job losses
- Trump has had a complicated history with Coca-Cola
- White House Diet Coke button story resurfaces
Deep Look
President Donald Trump made waves again this week, not with foreign policy or taxes—but with a fizzy favorite. On Wednesday, Trump announced on his social media platform that Coca-Cola has agreed to begin using real cane sugar in its iconic soft drink in the U.S., replacing the widely used high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Coca-Cola has yet to confirm the change.
“I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” Trump posted. “This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”
Trump’s announcement, if accurate, would mark a significant shift for a quintessential American brand, aligning U.S. Coke more closely with formulas used in countries like Mexico and Australia, where cane sugar has long been the sweetener of choice. American fans have been buying “Mexican Coke” in glass bottles since 2005 for its perceived cleaner, crisper taste.
A spokesperson for Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. did not confirm the president’s claim but acknowledged the enthusiasm. “We appreciate the passion for our products,” the company said, adding that more details about new offerings would be shared soon.
The potential shift has already triggered controversy—not among soda drinkers, but in the powerful U.S. corn industry, which supplies the syrup currently used in most American soft drinks.
John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, blasted the idea in a strongly worded statement:
“Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense. President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit. This change would cost thousands of food industry jobs, hurt U.S. farm income, and boost sugar imports—with no real nutritional advantage.”
Indeed, switching to cane sugar could reduce reliance on domestic corn, affecting farmers in the Midwest who are already grappling with fluctuating commodity prices and global competition. Critics also point out that nutritionally, HFCS and cane sugar offer comparable calorie and glucose content.
Notably, Trump’s personal beverage of choice—Diet Coke—would remain unaffected by any sweetener swap. Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame, a zero-calorie sugar substitute. But the president’s loyalty to the brand has become part of White House lore.
During his first term, Trump reportedly had a red button installed on the Resolute Desk—not for launching nuclear missiles, but to summon a Diet Coke from a White House butler. In 2018, The New York Times reported that he consumed up to 12 Diet Cokes per day.
Still, the Trump-Coke relationship has been rocky. In a 2012 tweet storm, Trump criticized diet sodas, linking them to weight gain and sarcastically calling Diet Coke “that garbage,” while admitting he continued drinking it.
Fast-forward to 2024, and it appears Trump is trying to reclaim a nostalgic version of Coke, wrapped in his familiar branding tone: “Make American Coke Great Again?” The slogan has quickly gone viral, stirring debate among soda purists, farmers, and political observers.
Whether Coca-Cola actually commits to changing its flagship U.S. formula remains to be seen. But the fact that a former—and now current—president has publicly inserted himself into soda manufacturing is yet another example of how Trump continues to use cultural issues to make policy points, reach voters, and dominate headlines.
With Trump’s influence over corporate America stronger than ever, even the country’s most iconic beverage may not be immune to his flavor of populism.
Trump Pushes Coke Trump Pushes Coke
You must Register or Login to post a comment.