Coca-Cola Boycott Spreads Amid Anti-Trump Sentiment
Coca-Cola has decided to use cane sugar extracted from sugarcane in its products in the United States, yielding to the persistent demands of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is known as a 'cola enthusiast.' On the 16th (local time), President Trump posted on his own social networking service (SNS), Truth Social, saying, "I have been discussing with Coca-Cola the issue of using real cane sugar in Coca-Cola sold in the United States," and added, "They have agreed to do so."
Coca-Cola decided to use cane sugar extracted from sugarcane in its products in the United States, giving in to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who is known as a cola enthusiast. AFP·Yonhap News
President Trump enjoys cola so much that he even installed a 'cola button' on his desk in the Oval Office. He installed this cola button during his first term and again after his recent inauguration. Trump, who does not drink alcohol or smoke and prefers diet cola, can have a cola brought to his table immediately by pressing this button. Because Trump is so closely associated with cola, Coca-Cola's sales have sometimes fluctuated depending on his foreign policies.
Coca-Cola Boycott Spreads Amid Anti-Trump Sentiment
Meanwhile, recent anti-Trump sentiment has spread into a global boycott of Coca-Cola, causing the company to suffer losses. Previously, a boycott movement against Coca-Cola emerged not only in global markets such as Denmark and Mexico, but also among certain consumers in the United States. This was due to growing backlash against Trump's hardline immigration policies. In Denmark, consumers launched a boycott of American brands such as Coca-Cola in 2019 after President Trump threatened to incorporate Danish territory Greenland into the United States. More recently, anti-American sentiment was further fueled when the Trump administration made remarks disregarding the alliance with Denmark.
People in Denmark are now choosing domestic products as alternatives to American carbonated beverages like Coca-Cola. As a result, the Danish brand Jolly Cola saw its March sales surge by 13 times compared to the same period last year. In Mexico, consumer sentiment weakened due to the trade war initiated by Trump, resulting in a sales hit. Coca-Cola FEMSA, a bottling company headquartered in Mexico, stated, "Sales volume in Mexico fell by 5.4% in the first quarter, due to a slowdown in economic activity and geopolitical tensions that impacted consumer sentiment."
Coca-Cola decided to use cane sugar extracted from sugarcane in its products in the United States, unable to withstand pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, known as a cola enthusiast. Reuters·Yonhap News
This Coca-Cola boycott phenomenon driven by anti-Trump sentiment is also occurring within the United States. President Trump has made immigrant deportation his top achievement and continues to pursue hardline measures. When an AI-generated video falsely claimed that Coca-Cola had reported undocumented immigrants, Hispanic consumers in the United States began boycotting Coca-Cola. James Quincey, CEO of Coca-Cola, explained, "This is completely false," but admitted, "There has been an impact on sales."
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