Fact Check: Did Trump call for a permanent ban on alcohol in a return to prohibition-era America?

WASHINGTON, DC: In January 2026, a rumor circulated online claiming that President Donald Trump wants Americans to sober up as he is planning to call for a permanent ban on alcohol.

As per the rumor, Trump called for a return to prohibition-era America, when the country's lawmakers outlawed alcohol from 1920 to 1933 under the 18th Amendment of the US Constitution. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: Trump plans to call for a permanent ban on alcohol in the US

In mid-January, a screenshot went viral claiming that Trump called for a return to prohibition-era America. The image circulated across different social media platforms, such as Instagram, Threads, and Reddit.

A Threads user shared the screenshot and wrote, "Do it Trump. I can get behind this. lol, His supporters would go crazy". 

The screenshot, which seemed to be an X post by the POTUS, read, "A very disturbing thing is happening all across our once great country. RAGING ALCOHOLICS everywhere. Bars packed, bottles flowing, nobody working, nobody focused. Weak leaders allowed it to spiral completely out of control. Families destroyed, productivity GONE, streets a mess. Nobody wants to say it, but I will."

"If this continues, maybe it's time to seriously look at the 18th Amendment Prohibition, to ban alcohol permanently. America was stronger, safer, and sharper before the drinking culture took over. We don't need hangovers — we need GREATNESS. LET'S MAKE AMERICA SOBER AGAIN!," the post added.

False: No credible evidence to back the claim

The claims made in the online rumor are false, as there is no credible evidence to prove that President Trump made any such post. A search of Trump's social media platforms and an archive of his posts showed no such results.

Similarly, a search on search engines, such as Google and Bing, showed no credible news media outlets reporting on the alleged post. If Trump had made any such post, several media houses would have covered it. 

Fact-checking outlet Snopes also did multiple reverse-image searches, but was unable to determine the original creator of the screenshot. 

Furthermore, Trump had not posted on the social media platform X since December 24, 2025. As of early 2026, the POTUS has been posting much more frequently on Truth Social, the social media platform which he owns.

A search of his Truth Social posts using Trump's Truth found no posts matching the one that went viral.

Trump recalls telling his children to avoid alcohol and cigarettes

During an interview with Bev Turner last November, President Trump noted that he has observed many children, even 'brilliant children of brilliant people,' fall into 'tremendous failures' often due to involvement with alcohol and illicit substances.

The POTUS recalled how he always gave his children a stern warning regarding those habits that he considered harmful, believing that prevention is the key to avoiding future struggles. 

He said, "I always would say to my kids, no alcohol, no cigarettes". While acknowledging cigarettes are "not of the same", Trump included them because "if you don't start it, you don't have a longing."

He also explained that people who stop smoking or drinking often 'long' for them when they see others partaking, saying, 'they're caged lunatics' when they see a cigarette.

Trump added that his daughter, Ivanka, even told him, "Dad, you're driving me crazy. Stop saying that," from constantly saying the same thing.