A wide range of public figures—from Hollywood stars to political leaders—have chosen to live alcohol-free.
Among them are Spider-Man actors Tom Holland and Zendaya, F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump, now 78 and sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in January 2025, has previously described his sobriety as “one of [his] only good traits.”
While nearly two-thirds of American adults say they drink alcohol (according to the Pew Research Center), someone like Trump living a sober lifestyle can seem unusual in the public eye.
But history shows that a president abstaining from alcohol is nothing new.
George W. Bush famously gave up drinking on his 40th birthday, believing it was time for change. Jimmy Carter also refrained from serving hard liquor at official events to preserve his public image. Joe Biden, the 46th president, has long avoided alcohol, citing a family history of addiction: “There are already enough alcoholics in my family,” he said in 2008.
Trump shared his own reasons a decade later.
In 2018, he revealed that his decision to stay sober stemmed from the tragic d3ath of his older brother, Frederick Crist Trump Jr., who struggled with alcoholism.
“I had a brother, Fred. He was a great guy—better looking, better personality than me,” Trump said during a press conference. “But he had a problem with alcohol. He always told me, ‘Don’t drink.’ I listened to him because I respected him.”
In 2019, he told The Washington Post that Fred died at 42 from a heart attack linked to his drinking. “He was so good-looking, and I saw what alcohol did to him physically… that really left a mark on me.”
Trump added that if he had ever started drinking, “it’s very possible I wouldn’t be talking to you right now.”
Motivated by his brother’s experience, Trump has always maintained a sober lifestyle.
“He’d be downing Diet Cokes while others were sipping scotch,” author Gwenda Blair told The New York Times in 2020. She added that his sobriety reflects his extreme competitiveness—even his high school coach said he was the most coachable athlete because he always remembered what it took to win.
Despite his lifelong choice to avoid alcohol, Trump hasn’t completely distanced himself from it. He once endorsed a vodka brand, his hotels and golf courses serve alcoholic beverages, and the Trump Organization owns a winery in Charlottesville, Virginia.
