Former President Donald Trump made waves after declaring that Coca-Cola is planning to change its iconic recipe in the United States—apparently at his suggestion.
Americans have been enjoying Coca-Cola since its first pour on May 8, 1886, in Atlanta, Georgia. Created by Dr. John Pemberton and originally served at Jacob’s Pharmacy, the now-famous syrup was mixed with carbonated water to create what would become one of the world’s most beloved beverages.
Over the decades, the Coke formula has evolved, most notably in 1903 when cocaine—once a key ingredient—was removed from the recipe. Looking back, it’s almost unbelievable that a drink now found in every grocery store once contained a Schedule II controlled substance.
Now, Trump, a well-known fan of Diet Coke, claims he’s pushed the beverage giant to tweak its recipe once again. At 79, the former president continues to stir headlines—this time with soda.
Taking to Truth Social, former President Donald Trump claimed he’s persuaded Coca-Cola to sweeten its signature drink with real cane sugar in the United States.
“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 wrote. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them – You’ll see. It’s just better!”
Currently, Coca-Cola in the U.S. uses high-fructose corn syrup instead of cane sugar—a result of decades-old agricultural subsidies. In contrast, countries like Mexico and Australia continue to use real sugar in their Coke products, often cited by fans as tasting better and “cleaner.”
Trump, a longtime devotee of Diet Coke, is now advocating for the use of U.S.-grown sugar cane to sweeten America’s favorite fizzy drink.
Coca-Cola responded to the bold claim in a statement to People, saying:
“We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.”
Just three months earlier, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told investors that the company remains focused on reducing sugar across its beverage portfolio. “We’ve done this by changing recipes as well as using our global marketing resources and distribution network to boost awareness of and interest in our ever-expanding portfolio,” he noted.
While it’s unclear if Trump’s comments reflect an actual shift in Coca-Cola’s recipe, fans may soon see new sugar-based options rolling out—though not necessarily replacing the classic U.S. formula just yet. Whether this is the start of a “sweet” revival or simply a political fizz, only time will tell.