A New Chapter for Coca-Cola and the Trump Connection
In recent times, the news surrounding Donald Trump has taken a different turn, shifting focus from the potential dismissal of the US Federal Reserve chair to growing discontent among his most loyal supporters regarding the administration's handling of the Epstein files. This has led to unexpected moments, such as Sesame Street’s Elmo urging Trump to release the documents related to the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Amid these developments, Trump made a surprising claim that Coca-Cola is changing its American recipe at his suggestion. He stated that the company has agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship soft drink 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 on Truth Social. “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!”
If true, this shift would align Coca-Cola more closely with its practices in other countries. While the company has offered glass bottles of Mexican Coke in the US since 2005, it has not officially confirmed the change mentioned by Trump. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola expressed appreciation for Trump’s enthusiasm and promised to share more details about new product offerings soon.
The Impact on Corn Farmers and the Economy
The potential switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar could have significant implications for US corn farmers, whose crops are used in artificial sweeteners. John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, criticized the move, stating, “Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense.” He argued that the change could cost thousands of American manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and increase imports of foreign sugar, with no nutritional benefit.
Despite his advocacy for cane sugar, Trump himself is not affected by this change, as his preferred beverage is Diet Coke, which uses aspartame instead of sugar. According to a 2018 report by The New York Times, he consumed about a dozen Diet Cokes daily. His fondness for the drink even led to a red button installed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, which summoned a White House butler to deliver Diet Coke on a silver tray.
A Complex Relationship with Coca-Cola
Trump’s relationship with Coca-Cola has had its ups and downs. In 2012, he suggested that diet soda might be linked to weight gain, later expressing frustration with the company, stating, “The Coca Cola company is not happy with me — that’s okay, I’ll still keep drinking that garbage.” This was evident at the 2017 G20 summit, where a bottle of Diet Coke could be seen next to his chair.
However, their relationship appeared to improve earlier this year when Coca-Cola issued a commemorative bottle of Diet Coke to mark Trump’s second term in the White House. Margo Martin, Trump’s deputy director of communications, shared a photo of the event, captioning it, “Tonight, President Trump received the first ever Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Diet Coke bottle from the Chairman and CEO of Coca Cola Company, James Quincey.”
Controversial Gifts and Public Reactions
The gift sparked criticism, with many accusing Coca-Cola of hypocritically aligning with the new Trump era, despite the company condemning Trump and his supporters after the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. At the time, Coca-Cola stated that the assault on the Capitol was “an offense to the ideals of American democracy.” Trump, in response, called for a boycott of Coca-Cola and other companies opposing voting law reforms in Georgia.
The Secret Recipe of Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola recipe has long been a closely guarded secret. Dr. John S. Pemberton’s formula, originally known as Pemperton’s Tonic, has remained confidential since its creation in 1886. The recipe is stored in a safety deposit box in a vault in the US, accessible only to two executives who cannot travel on the same plane.
A 1931 Fortune magazine article revealed that the soda was 99% sugar and water, with the remaining 1% consisting of caramel, fruit flavorings, phosphoric and citric acid, caffeine, de-cocainized coca leaves, kola nuts, and the mysterious “7x” ingredient. Later leaks disclosed that “7x” includes alcohol and six oils: orange, cinnamon, lemon, coriander, nutmeg, and neroli.
Now you know.
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