Looking at Donald Trump’s flair for boldness and drama, it’s difficult to believe that the former US President never have had alcohol in his life. His teetotaler ways have often led people to wonder what prompted him to stay away from booze and how he managed to avoid the temptation.
Trump once joked that he had never had a glass of alcohol in his life. “Can you imagine if I had?” he mused.”What a mess I would be.” And many would agree with this. So what is it real reason behind Trump’s abstinence. While Trump said the above-mentioned lines in a lighter vein, there is a serious story behind it. His decision to abstain from alcohol wasn’t just a personal preference—it became part of the unique, ultracompetitive persona that helped shape his life.
Alcohol and US Presidents
There is no dearth of prominent personalities and US Presidents that struggled with alcohol addiction that included Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson, and Ulysses S. Grant. George W. Bush quit drinking on his 40th birthday after deciding enough was enough, and Jimmy Carter kept hard liquor out of the White House to project his strait-laced image, Trump, however, took a different path altogether. He didn’t quit because he never started.
The story of Donald Trump’s abstinence
Your early life can leave a long-lasting impression and Trump’s life story is a testimony to that. His older brother, Fred Trump Jr., lost his life early and his struggles with alcoholism were behind his tragic demise at the age of just 43. The effects of this tragedy left a lasting impact on a young Donald who watched his brother battle a destructive disease. Donald also saw how his brother’s habit was disapproved by his father and his disdain for alcohol also strengthened his resolve to never touch alcohol in his life.
Trump’s biographers agree that these childhood incidents shaped the former president’s views on alcohol. Determined to avoid the same fate as his brother’s, Trump chose a path of sobriety.
Apart from this personal story and childhood trauma, Trump’s decision to abstain from alcohol was also strategic. According to Gwenda Blair, a writer who has delved into the Trump family saga, he realized early that staying away from alcohol gave him an edge in a brutal industry where business deals were frequently sealed over drinks. As a casino mogul in Atlantic City, Trump watched gamblers abandon their inhibitions and their money after a few rounds of free drinks. Trump observed that while others dulled their senses with scotch, he stayed sharp with his trust-worthy drink Diet Coke.
Trump’s advice to addicts
In a Fox News interview, Trump said the best way to avoid addiction is simply never to start. As someone who had seen powerful, successful men including his brother succumb to alcohol, he struggled to understand why they couldn’t stop once they began.
Staying alcohol free not only has a positive impact on mental health but could also help unlock your full potential. Perhaps, youngsters who are starting with their careers could prevent themselves from this cycle of destruction and benefit from Trump’s advice.
Donald Trump delivers remarks at Al Smith dinner