Coca-Cola Responds to Trump’s Cane Sugar Deal Claim, Defends Corn Syrup

On July 16, 2025, Donald Trump stirred attention by urging Coca-Cola to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its U.S. drinks. He called corn syrup “garbage” and claimed that a new deal with sugar producers is in the works. That grabbed attention fast. After all, Coca-Cola is one of the world’s most famous brands, and its sweetener choice affects millions of bottles every day.