Washington DC: Comments attributed to US President Donald Trump suggesting diet soda may help fight cancer have triggered debate after being recounted by Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Oz, who serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said Trump had drawn a comparison between soda’s effect on plants and its potential impact on the human body.
Speaking on a podcast with Donald Trump Jr., Oz said, “Your dad argues that diet soda is good for him because it kills grass if you pour it on grass, so therefore it must kill cancer cells inside the body.”
He also recalled a separate instance aboard Air Force One where Trump was drinking a soft beverage and made a similar remark.
“He’s got a Fanta on the desk and I say, ‘Are you kidding me?’ … he goes, ‘You know, this stuff’s good for me, it kills cancer cells,’” Oz said, adding that Trump described the drink as “fresh squeezed.”
Oz noted that Trump has a long-standing preference for diet soda and has previously used a button in the Oval Office to request one during meetings.
The remarks come amid broader discussions involving Oz and US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on promoting healthier diets in the United States. Oz also referenced Trump’s continued consumption of fast food, including meals from McDonald’s, along with sugary and diet beverages.
Trump’s past comments on health have also drawn scrutiny. He has previously questioned the benefits of exercise, citing a “battery” theory suggesting the human body has a finite amount of energy — a claim widely criticised by medical experts.
