The White House has walked back eyebrow-raising comments about President Donald Trump’s diet soda theory involving cancer prevention. The response follows an interview in which Dr. Mehmet Oz described a conversation aboard Air Force One regarding the commander-in-chief’s soft drink preferences.
Karoline Leavitt reacts to Donald Trump’s diet soda claims
During a press briefing on April 15, which primarily focused on the president’s tax policies on Tax Day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also addressed the speculation head-on. The speculation in question started when Dr. Oz shared Donald Trump’s soda theory.
“Your dad argues that diet soda is good for him because it kills grass — if poured on grass — so, therefore, it must kill cancer cells inside the body,” Oz stated on Trump Jr’s podcast, Triggered. When reporters pressed for clarity on whether the president holds this belief as fact, Leavitt gave a straightforward correction. “As we all know, the president has a very good sense of humor. I have heard him tell this joke before,” the White House press secretary stated (via Express US).
Leavitt did not elaborate further on Trump’s diet beyond confirming the cancer comment was not a medical assertion. Despite the official explanation that it was said in jest, Trump’s son Don Jr. seemed to entertain the notion during the podcast. He suggested there might be something unique about his father’s routines. “But then maybe he’s on to something. Because I will say this: I know a lot of guys pushing 80, not a lot have his level of energy, recall, stamina,” Don Jr. said.
Oz further elaborated on the president’s philosophy regarding fast food and chain restaurants, noting his focus on quality control. “He doesn’t want to get sick, so he eats junk food, but it’s food made in large, reputable chains because they have quality control,” the heart surgeon shared.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
