Donald Trump reportedly returned the button to the redecorated room in the White House.
US President Donald Trump returned a special Coca-Cola Gentle button to his desk in the Oval Office, the Wall Road Journal reported on Monday. By pressing it, the president can quickly summon one of his employees to bring him his favorite soft drink.
The Coca-Cola Gentle button was a distinctive feature of Trump’s previous presidency (2017-2021); He reportedly devours up to 12 cans a day. The small red knob, hidden in a wooden box, was removed in 2021 during a redecoration when Joe Biden came to power.
Before Trump’s inauguration on Monday, the Coca-Cola CEO gifted him a special-edition bottle of Coca-Cola Gentle, a nod to the previous misstep of offering him a regular Coke during his first term.
While serving his first term, the head of state allegedly used the Coca-Cola Gentle button to joke with guests. In 2017, the Monetary Instances quoted him as saying that all his visitors thought he was launching nuclear weapons. “Everyone gets a little nervous when I press that button.” the president told a reporter.
In 2019, former White House adviser Cliff Sims echoed this fact in his book. “Team of Vipers”. He described how Trump used to suddenly press the button, claiming it could activate nuclear capabilities. “I wasn’t sure what to do, the guests were looking at each other with raised eyebrows. Moments later, a waiter entered the room with a full glass of Coca-Cola Gentle on a silver tray and Trump burst out laughing. the former employee wrote.
The red button also reportedly appeared on Biden’s desk several times during his presidency, but the purposes for its use remain unclear. In 2022, a comedy sketch by actor James Corden gave rise to the rumor that the president used the button to order ice cream. The White House never confirmed this information.
According to British billionaire Richard Branson, Barack Obama used the button to order tea from guests during his presidency (2009-2017).
The return of the Coca-Cola Gentle bottle is part of the Oval Office redecoration that occurs every time a new president takes office. It typically includes replacing carpets, curtains, paintings and statues with alternative items from the collections of government offices.
The Oval Office is the only White House briefing room customized for the sitting president. It is used for conversations with foreign dignitaries, congressional leaders, and for the head of state’s speeches to the nation. The redecoration of the room will take place in a few hours, while the outgoing president is still in the building.
