Trump Says He Never Drank a Drop of Alcohol

In a revealing moment on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast, Donald Trump shared why he’s never consumed alcohol or used nicotine, attributing it largely to his older brother Fred’s battle with addiction.

When Von asked, “You never have [a drink]?” Trump responded firmly: “No, I never have.” He explained that Fred — whom he described as “a great guy … very handsome … had so much going” — suffered from alcoholism and smoking, and that watching Fred’s decline taught him a stark lesson: stay away from substances completely.

Trump said he often told his children, “No drugs, no drinking, no cigarettes”, citing his brother’s struggles as a guiding principle in his life.

Probing the Podcast Moment

• The conversation was part of Episode 526, recorded at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, property.
• During the interview, they also touched on addiction, familial pain, and how one sibling’s life choices can affect the paths of others.
• Trump described his brother’s addiction as a cautionary tale: “His body could hold out … it held out and it had bad moments”. He said Fred’s downward spiral left a lasting impression.

Why This Resonates

• Image vs. reality: For decades, Trump has projected a public image of control and discipline. This anecdote gives a clearer personal origin to one aspect: sobriety by choice, not mandate.
• Familial weight: This adds depth to narratives about Trump’s family — beyond politics, there is grief, consequence, and legacy at stake.
• Public vulnerability: It’s not common to hear high-profile political figures openly discuss family addiction in this way. Even if strategically framed, it contributes to normalizing discussion around substance use.

What’s Not Fully Clear

• Trump never elaborated on whether he ever was tempted or tested with alcohol; he framed it more as a boundary he set, rooted in caution.
• There’s no indication he discussed recovery, therapy, or how he processed emotional fallout from Fred’s struggles beyond avoidance.
• The podcast context means the narrative is partly curated; we don’t know all the unspoken tensions or deeper family history.

You might also want to read: Trump Moved “Most Lethal Weapon Ever Made” Near Russia