Medical experts have rejected President Donald Trump's claim that diet soft drinks can kill cancer cells, warning that such statements are scientifically unfounded and potentially dangerous. The remarks were made during an episode of Donald Trump Jr.'s podcast, Triggered with Don Jr., where Dr Mehmet Oz recounted Trump's belief that orange soda, specifically Fanta, is beneficial because it kills grass and therefore must kill cancer cells.
Dr Oz, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, described an incident on Air Force One where Trump defended his consumption of Fanta by saying, 'This stuff's good for me, it kills cancer cells.' Trump's son, Don Jr., defended his father, citing his energy and stamina at nearly 80 years old. However, health professionals have strongly contradicted the claim.
Umar Razzaq, a UK pharmacist with over 20 years of experience, stated: 'There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that diet or any soft drinks can kill cancer cells in the human body.' He emphasised that human biology is complex and that cancer treatments rely on rigorously tested medicines. Dr Andy Gaya, a consultant oncologist at Cromwell Hospital London, added that the body tightly controls acid levels, making it impossible for soda to create an acidic environment lethal to cancer cells.
This is not the first time Trump has made controversial medical assertions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he falsely claimed that 99% of cases were 'totally harmless' and suggested injecting disinfectant as a treatment. He has also promoted discredited links between autism and vaccines, and made misleading statements about abortion healthcare.
Dr Gaya explained that while sugary or acidic environments can damage cells in a laboratory, fizzy drinks are just as likely to harm normal cells as cancer cells. The comments come amid rising concerns about misinformation, with NewsGuard reporting that nearly half of Americans believed at least one false online claim in 2025.
