In a surprising move, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey personally presented President-elect Donald Trump with a customized bottle of Diet Coke—marking a dramatic shift in tone for the beverage giant that once publicly criticized the former president.
The bottle, a one-of-a-kind keepsake, replaced the familiar Diet Coke logo with an image of the White House and the words: “The Inauguration of the President of the United States.” Trump, a well-known Diet Coke enthusiast who famously had a button installed in the Oval Office to summon a fresh can during his first term, appeared visibly delighted in a photo alongside Quincey that quickly went viral on X.
Beside the bottle was a note extolling Coca-Cola’s economic contributions:
“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 U.S. economic activity annually and supports more than 860,000 jobs in the United States.”
This gesture comes as Coca-Cola seemingly mends fences with Trump, following years of tension stemming from political disagreements.
Coca-Cola’s outreach represents a marked departure from its past criticism of Trump and his supporters. After the events of January 6, 2021, the company released a strongly worded statement condemning the Capitol riots as “an offense to the ideals of American democracy.” Around the same time, Trump called for a boycott of Coca-Cola and other corporations that opposed Georgia’s GOP-led election integrity reforms.
Now, with Trump set to return to the White House, it seems corporate America is rethinking its approach. Coca-Cola’s gesture is only the latest in a string of high-profile overtures from major U.S. companies.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who faced sharp criticism for his platform’s censorship policies during Trump’s first term, has visited Trump twice at Mar-a-Lago since his November election victory. Zuckerberg also pledged a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund and announced that Meta will significantly scale back its controversial content moderation policies.
Similarly, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated $1 million to the fund and made a personal visit to Mar-a-Lago. While previously critical of Trump, Bezos appears to be signaling a new willingness to work with the administration, likely with an eye on regulatory and business priorities.
These overtures highlight the growing recognition of Trump’s enduring influence—not just in Washington but across the country. Corporations, many of which alienated conservative consumers in recent years with woke policies and public posturing, seem to be pivoting back toward neutrality or outright support of the Trump administration’s pro-business agenda.
Coca-Cola’s personalized gift to Trump serves as a symbolic olive branch, signaling the beverage titan’s acknowledgment of shifting political and cultural winds. Whether this marks the beginning of a broader reconciliation between corporate America and conservative values remains to be seen, but for now, Trump’s second term is already reshaping the landscape.
One thing is certain: the Diet Coke button may soon make its triumphant return to the Oval Office.
