We’ve lived through nearly 100 days of the Trump presidency and we have a thousand more to go. During these first three months we, as a nation, have been compelled to spend a lot of time with Donald Trump. Listening to him. Watching him. Hearing from him as he weighs in—shudder—on global events. During his early days as a politician, we also got to explore the inner Donald—the man beneath the cumulus of hair. We’ve explored his passions (golf), his likes (fast food), and his dislikes (appropriately cooked steaks). It’s a growing corpus of reporting that has allowed readers to dive a little deeper in the baby pool that is our current president.
This week, we got another insight into Trump and the creature comforts that may seem like small things (because they are), but give some insight into a man who does not have much insight of his own. During a round of sit-down interviews with various outlets at the White House, we learned Donald Trump has a Coke button in the Oval Office.
The Financial Times:
Sitting across from Donald Trump in the Oval Office, my eyes are drawn to a little red button on a box that sits on his desk. “This isn’t the nuclear button, is it?” I joke, pointing. “No, no, everyone thinks it is,” Trump says on cue, before leaning over and pressing it to order some Cokes. “Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button.”
The Associated Press:
A man accustomed to wealth and its trappings, Trump has embraced life in the Executive Mansion, often regaling guests with trivia about the historic decor. With the push of a red button placed on the Resolute Desk that presidents have used for decades, a White House butler soon arrived with a Coke for the president.
Trump, sipping a Coke delivered by an aide after the president ordered it by pressing a button on his desk, appeared to rebuff an overture from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who told Reuters a direct phone call with Trump could take place again after their first conversation in early December angered Beijing.
I know what you’re thinking: Yes, yes, I’m sure Donald Trump can use the button for doing other things—like ordering Big Macs.
