Washington: As Donald Trump steps back into the Oval Office for his second, non-consecutive term, one familiar feature has made its triumphant return: the Diet Coke button. This red button, which sits on the resolute desk, was installed by Trump during his first term to make sure his favourite beverage was never too far away. And as per reports, after his inauguration ceremony on January 20, the button was back in action.

Alongside the button, Trump’s Deputy Director of Communications, Margo Martin, shared an image of a glass bottle of Coca-Cola with a special inauguration label. The bottle proudly displays an image of the White House with the slogan, "The Inauguration of the President of the United States Donald J. Trump." 

Accompanying the bottle was a note from Coca-Cola, which read: "Founded 126 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, The Coca-Cola Company takes great pride in producing hundreds of brands that people enjoy. Along with our 60+ independent bottling partners, the Coca-Cola system generates $58+ billion in US economic activity annually and supports more than 860,000 jobs in the United States. We're proud to continue our decades-long tradition of celebrating the US presidential inauguration with a commemorative [bottle]."

Trump’s longstanding love for Diet Coke

Trump’s affection for Coca-Cola, particularly Diet Coke, is well-known. He’s even joked about his love for the drink, saying in a 2012 post on X, “I have never seen a thin person drinking Diet Coke.” 

After Joe Biden took office in 2021, reports emerged that he had removed the Diet Coke button from the presidential desk. However, with Trump back in the Oval Office, the button has returned to its rightful place, a symbol of his long-standing devotion to the soda.

During his first term, Trump would press the button on the desk whenever he craved a glass of Diet Coke, and a staffer would promptly arrive with the drink on a silver tray. While Trump never officially confirmed the button’s return, it is clear that the Diet Coke button has become part of the Trump legacy in the Oval Office.

The Hill reported that Trump had the button installed to "keep the carbonated beverages flowing," and it seems that the tradition continues. The button is not just a symbol of Trump's love for Diet Coke but also a reminder of the personal touches that each president brings to the White House.

According to media reports, the former president would regularly consume 12 cans of Diet Coke a day. 

Personalising the Oval Office

With every new president, the Oval Office is customised to reflect their style and preferences. Trump’s second term is no exception. While the iconic portraits of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson remain in their places, Trump seems to have brought back some old favourites. The bust of British wartime leader Winston Churchill, for instance, has made a return to the Oval, just as it did during his first term.

Trump also seemed quite pleased with the way his team had decorated the office. "I just got here. My people came in, they have extraordinary decorators," he said.

Pointing to the portraits of his predecessors, Trump added, "I can live with George Washington, I can live with Thomas Jefferson – they took a very safe route."

In true Trump fashion, there was one final surprise in the Oval Office. When asked if Joe Biden had left him the traditional handover letter, Trump appeared unsure. He then checked inside the drawer of the historic Resolute Desk and exclaimed, "Ooh!" pulling out a white envelope with the numbers "47" written in Biden's handwriting. "It could have been years before we got it," he joked.

(agency inputs)