Trump reinstates carbonated Oval Office tradition — WSJ
According to the Wall Street Journal, a Diet Coke button has made a comeback on the Oval Office desk with Donald Trump's return for his second term. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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Donald Trump has reportedly reinstated the Diet Coke button in the redecorated Oval Office, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday. This button allows the president to quickly call a staff member to bring him his preferred soft drink.
The Diet Coke button was a signature element of Trump's previous presidency, as he is said to consume up to 12 cans daily. The small red button, which is housed in a wooden box, was removed in 2021 during the redecorating that followed Joe Biden's inauguration.
Prior to Trump's inauguration, the CEO of Coca-Cola presented him with a special-edition Diet Coke bottle, acknowledging their earlier blunder of providing him with a regular Coke during his first term.
During his initial term, Trump reportedly used the Diet Coke button to play pranks on guests. In 2017, he mentioned to the Financial Times that visitors often believed it could launch nuclear weapons, saying, “Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button.”
In 2019, former White House aide Cliff Sims, in his book “Team of Vipers,” recounted how Trump would sometimes press the button suddenly, hinting it might activate nuclear capabilities. “Not sure what to do, guests would look at one another with raised eyebrows. Moments later, a steward would enter the room carrying a glass filled with Diet Coke on a silver platter, and Trump would burst out laughing,” Sims wrote.
The red button was rumored to have appeared on Biden’s desk several times during his presidency; however, its specific uses remain ambiguous. In 2022, a comedic sketch by actor James Corden sparked speculation that Biden used the button to order ice cream, although the White House never confirmed this.
According to British billionaire Richard Branson, Barack Obama utilized the button to request tea for guests during his own presidency.
The Diet Coke button's return is part of the Oval Office's redecoration, a process that typically occurs every time a new president takes office. This redecoration usually involves replacing rugs, drapes, artwork, and statues with new items from government collections.
The Oval Office is the only personalized meeting room in the White House, used for discussions with foreign dignitaries, congressional leaders, and presidential addresses to the nation. The redecoration occurs within a few hours while the outgoing president is still on the premises.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
The Diet Coke button was a signature element of Trump's previous presidency, as he is said to consume up to 12 cans daily. The small red button, which is housed in a wooden box, was removed in 2021 during the redecorating that followed Joe Biden's inauguration.
Prior to Trump's inauguration, the CEO of Coca-Cola presented him with a special-edition Diet Coke bottle, acknowledging their earlier blunder of providing him with a regular Coke during his first term.
During his initial term, Trump reportedly used the Diet Coke button to play pranks on guests. In 2017, he mentioned to the Financial Times that visitors often believed it could launch nuclear weapons, saying, “Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button.”
In 2019, former White House aide Cliff Sims, in his book “Team of Vipers,” recounted how Trump would sometimes press the button suddenly, hinting it might activate nuclear capabilities. “Not sure what to do, guests would look at one another with raised eyebrows. Moments later, a steward would enter the room carrying a glass filled with Diet Coke on a silver platter, and Trump would burst out laughing,” Sims wrote.
The red button was rumored to have appeared on Biden’s desk several times during his presidency; however, its specific uses remain ambiguous. In 2022, a comedic sketch by actor James Corden sparked speculation that Biden used the button to order ice cream, although the White House never confirmed this.
According to British billionaire Richard Branson, Barack Obama utilized the button to request tea for guests during his own presidency.
The Diet Coke button's return is part of the Oval Office's redecoration, a process that typically occurs every time a new president takes office. This redecoration usually involves replacing rugs, drapes, artwork, and statues with new items from government collections.
The Oval Office is the only personalized meeting room in the White House, used for discussions with foreign dignitaries, congressional leaders, and presidential addresses to the nation. The redecoration occurs within a few hours while the outgoing president is still on the premises.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
