Trump Talks Addictions: ‘I Have No Longing to Drink’
Sandra Rhodes · Oct 16, 2026 · 1 min read

President Donald Trump admitted he has “some very severe problems,” but addiction to smoking, drinking or doing drugs is not part of them.
Trump talked about addictions during a Rose Garden event on Thursday when he hosted a lunch honoring first responders.
“You know, I’m fortunate,” he said. “I don’t smoke and I don’t drink. And I have no longing to drink. My friends, they drink, and they have a real hard time. You know, they’re addicted. They have a really hard time staying away.”
Trump’s brother, Fred Trump Jr., died at 42 after a long battle with alcoholism.
“And drugs, probably even more so, probably the same, but worse than alcohol,” Trump continued, before explaining he has issues. “But if you don’t drink, or if you don’t take drugs, or if you don’t smoke, there’s no problem. I have other problems. I have some very severe problems. But that is not one of them. I don’t want to add them to the list.”
Trump then admitted his remarks will give the media some fodder.
“So, it’s three problems I don’t have,” Trump said. “And it’s really good. Now they’re gonna— the press is gonna say, ‘What problem does he have? Let’s figure it out.’ I probably set myself up for that one.”
The president added, “I was just having fun with the media.”
Trump does not exercise and believes humans are born with a finite amount of energy, per a piece in The New Yorker.



