Trump's Diet Coke Button Once Spooked JD Vance

A Strange Tradition Returns

JD Vance, now the Vice President of the United States, once made a controversial remark about his future boss, Donald Trump, calling him "America's Hitler." This history might have made it easier for Vance to believe that the red button on the Resolute Desk could trigger a nuclear attack. However, this assumption was based more on past experiences than current reality. The red button, which had been a feature during Trump’s first term, returned when he reclaimed the White House in 2025—but it wasn’t what it seemed.

The Diet Coke Button

Trump is known for his fondness for Diet Coke, and this habit has become one of his more peculiar traditions. The red button on the desk, which looked ominous at first glance, was actually designed to order a Diet Coke. This quirky detail caught many off guard, including Vance himself. During a speech at the 2025 GOP dinner in Ohio, Vance recounted an incident from just ten days into his second term. He described how Trump pressed the red button while speaking with a foreign leader, causing Vance to panic and fear the worst.

A Misunderstanding That Wasn't So Bad

Vance recalled the moment: “We're talking to this foreign leader, and the president looks over at me, puts the foreign leader on mute, and says, 'This is not going very well.' And he presses the red button, and my eyes get really big. I'm like, 'Mr. President, what just happened?' and he looks at me and he goes, 'Nuclear. Nuclear.'"

But instead of a nuclear strike, what followed was a simple Diet Coke. This misunderstanding was not unique to Vance. In 2019, two journalists also held their breath when Trump pressed the button during an interview, only to see a Diet Coke delivered on a silver platter.

A Joke With Layers

Vance used the story of the Diet Coke button to connect with his audience, but he quickly added a twist. After making the joke, he said, “So that's the kind of guy, my fellow Republicans, that we have as the president of the United States.” This statement seemed sarcastic at first, but Vance clarified, “A guy who can do a good job, but keep a sense of humor.” Some media outlets omitted this last part, making it seem like a subtle jab at Trump.

Vance’s Political Strategy

Vance has always had a strong personality, and it’s clear he has learned a few political tricks from Trump. For example, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell speculated in July 2025 that Vance might be eager for the public release of a controversial birthday card that Trump allegedly wrote for Jeffrey Epstein. O’Donnell pointed to a tweet from Vance, where he dismissed the allegations as “complete balderdash” and claimed no copy of the letter was shown to the administration before the Wall Street Journal published its story.

O’Donnell argued that Vance’s tweet added fuel to the fire surrounding the Epstein files. He suggested that directly asking where the letter was was the wrong move, stating that the worst thing that could happen to Trump would be for the letter to be released publicly. Vance’s tweet, in a way, called for exactly that.

A Complex Relationship

The relationship between Vance and Trump is complex. While Vance has criticized some of Trump’s actions, he has also defended him in key moments. This balance of criticism and support shows that Vance is navigating a delicate political landscape. His ability to use humor while still maintaining a level of respect for Trump highlights his political acumen.

Overall, the return of the Diet Coke button on the Resolute Desk has become more than just a quirky tradition—it’s a symbol of the unusual and often unpredictable nature of Trump’s presidency. And for Vance, it serves as both a reminder of the past and a tool for shaping the future.