US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that soft drink giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use “REAL” cane sugar in the coke being manufactured in the United States after he held discussions with the company. However, a Coca-Cola spokesperson did not confirm whether the company has agreed to do so. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said “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. I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola.” Coca-Cola spokesperson Michelle Agnew said the company would share details on the new offerings soon and that it appreciates the enthusiasm of the US President for its product. “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,” Agnew said. "I have been speaking to @CocaCola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. 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!" –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/9L27oxlYUj — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2025 Coca-Cola which is made for the US market is sweetened with the help of corn syrup, while the soft drink major uses cane sugar in some other countries. The company began using corn syrup for coke in 1980 and blended it with sugar to help balance out the cost of rising sugar prices. The Trump administration’s initiative of Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) in line with the agenda of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pushed food companies to change their formulations to remove certain ingredients like artificial dyes. Kennedy has been critical of the amount of sugar being consumed in the American diet and has blamed it in part for the obesity epidemic in the country. The health secretary has said that the administration would release updated dietary guidelines this summer that would advise American citizens to consume “whole food”. Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said, “Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense,” Reuters reported.
