Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Coca-Cola has agreed to start using real cane sugar in its US soft drinks—a change he claims to have influenced.
However, the beverage giant has yet to confirm this shift from high-fructose corn syrup.
"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 on his Truth Social account. "This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!"
According to the BBC, Coca-Cola responded with a short statement thanking Trump for his enthusiasm. "More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon," a spokesperson said, without confirming any change in ingredients.
In the US, Coca-Cola has traditionally used high-fructose corn syrup to sweeten its drinks.
In some countries outside the U.S.—such as Mexico, the UK, and Australia—Coca-Cola is commonly sweetened with cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup.
For years, American fans have sought out "Mexican Coke" in glass bottles, known for its cane sugar content.
Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use real cane sugar in US drinks: ‘It’s just better!’ https://t.co/rz64zg3KTq pic.twitter.com/rg8HK6qML0
— New York Post (@nypost) July 16, 2025
Trump Touts Cane Sugar for Coke—Corn Farmers Cry Foul
Any decision to switch sweeteners could have broader effects. US corn farmers and producers of corn syrup voiced concern over Trump's suggestion.
John Bode, president of the Corn Refiners Association, warned that switching from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar could lead to job losses in US food manufacturing, hurt farmers' incomes, and increase reliance on imported sugar—all without offering any real nutritional advantage.
This isn't the first time Trump has made headlines for his relationship with Coca-Cola. He's known to be a big fan of Diet Coke, even having a special button in the Oval Office to request the drink while he was president, AP News said.
Despite calling it "garbage" in 2012, he reportedly continued drinking it regularly, even consuming up to a dozen Diet Cokes a day, according to a New York Times report in 2018.
Even though Trump's go-to drink, Diet Coke, uses aspartame instead of sugar and wouldn't be impacted, his post highlights rising concerns from health advocates.
His health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed for companies to remove corn syrup and other processed ingredients from food and drinks sold in the US.
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