Dr Oz jokes about Trump’s Air Force One drink swap: 'Sense of humor is the real health secret'

WASHINGTON, DC: Mehmet Oz has taken to social media to share a lighthearted moment from Air Force One, where President Donald Trump traded his famous diet soda for a spicy virgin Bloody Mary.

The physician used the occasion to suggest that while the media focuses on calories, a resilient sense of humor remains the president’s true secret to staying healthy.

Mehmet Oz shares Trump Air Force One drink swap

On Saturday, May 2, Mehmet Oz posted a viral update on X regarding his travels with President Trump.

The post featured a playful shift in Trump’s usual beverage selection, following a week of intense media scrutiny over his soft drink preferences.

"Some folks made a big deal out of President Trump joking that diet soda is ‘healthy.’ So yesterday on Air Force One, the President switched things up for us with a spicy virgin Bloody Mary, turns out the real recipe for good health might just be a sense of humor," Oz said.

Trump diet soda joke sparks media controversy

The humor shared by Oz was a direct response to a media firestorm that began during a recent podcast appearance with Donald Trump Jr.

During that interview, Oz described an exchange with Trump aboard Air Force One, where the president reportedly defended his drink choice.

“You know, we were on Air Force One the other day, and I walk in there because he wants to talk about something, and he’s got an orange soft drink on his desk. He’s got a Fanta on the desk,” Oz said.

“And I say, ‘Are you kidding me?’ So he starts to, like, sheepishly grin. He says, ‘You know, this stuff’s good for me – it kills cancer cells.’”

Oz added that Trump also justified the drink by saying, “It’s fresh-squeezed. So how bad could it be for you?”

While these comments were clearly delivered as a joke, they sparked a wave of serious fact-checking from critics.

News outlets treated the remarks as literal medical advice, leading to a clash between the administration’s playful tone and the press corps’ clinical analysis.

Karoline Leavitt dismisses Trump diet soda controversy

Earlier, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also brushed aside the claim after a reporter asked, "Trump argued diet soda is good for you because it kills grass, therefore it must kill cancer cells. Is this accurate of what he said?"

Leavitt was responding to questions about comments made by Oz during the podcast hosted by Donald Trump Jr, where the claim was brought up. 

"As we all know, the president has a very good sense of humor. I have heard him tell this joke before," she said. Leavitt argued that the media’s inability to distinguish between a joke and a policy statement is a disservice to the public.

"It’s one of his most under-reported characteristics, I would say. I think The Wall Street Journal should get a better sense of humor," she added.