Donald Trump has made history once again, starting his second term as US President as the oldest person to ever take the oath of office.
At 78 years and 220 days old on Monday (January 20), Trump surpassed Joe Biden, who was 78 years and 61 days when inaugurated in 2021.
Trump’s milestone adds a unique twist to the record books, and despite the age gap, his lifestyle seems as lively as ever, as he has quickly started making big changes.
One hallmark of Trump’s habits is his well-documented love for Diet Coke. The obsession gained public attention in a 2017 New York Times profile that described his daily routine as an "hour-by-hour battle for self-preservation."
“Watching cable, he shares thoughts with anyone in the room, even the household staff he summons via a button for lunch or for one of the dozen Diet Cokes he consumes each day,” the article revealed.
Yes. Twelve Diet Cokes a day!
Unsurprisingly, the revelation about his soda consumption has resurfaced and sent shockwaves across social media.
“12 DIET COKES A DAY?” one stunned X user commented. Another stunned social media user wrote, “12 diet cokes at 78 years old...” while a third joked, “The 12 diet cokes a day would kill a normal human just from. The toxicity. Go Trump!”
The rumors about Trump’s so-called "Diet Coke button" have been confirmed by former White House chef Andre Rush, who worked during Trump’s first term as well as under Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
In an interview with Politico last month, Rush said the rumors were indeed true: “He’s always been on his soda trip. That’s all he drinks, 24/7.
"He’s been living off it and says, ‘It hasn’t hurt me yet.’”
Rush added that while Trump tries to eat healthy, public perception often leans toward his indulgent habits. “He gets so much flack about the unhealthy side of him. He does try to eat healthy, but people don’t get to see that part of it. They just see the part that we want to show on social media. I mean, Bill Clinton ate just as many burgers as Donald Trump did.”
Following Monday’s inauguration, renovations to the Oval Office were nearly completed, giving the space a striking resemblance to how it looked during Trump’s first term.
According to the Wall Street Journal, notable decor includes a portrait of George Washington above the fireplace, a bust of Winston Churchill, and, of course, the reinstalled Diet Coke button on the Resolute Desk.
The button, which was previously removed during Biden’s presidency, was already back in action on Monday. Trump had once joked to the Financial Times in 2017 that visitors mistook the button for something far more serious: “Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button,” he quipped.
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