Why Donald Trump—and Other Public Figures—Choose Sobriety

A growing number of public figures, from Tom Holland and Zendaya to Lewis Hamilton, live alcohol-free. Among them is Donald Trump, who at 78, was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president in January 2025.

Trump has called his sobriety “one of [his] only good traits,” tracing it back to the tragic death of his brother, Fred Jr., who struggled with alcoholism and died at 42. “He always told me, ‘Don’t drink.’ I listened,” Trump has said.

While two-thirds of U.S. adults drink, abstaining presidents are not uncommon. George W. Bush quit at 40, Jimmy Carter avoided hard liquor at events, and Joe Biden has never drunk due to family history.

Though Trump abstains personally, he hasn’t cut ties with alcohol entirely—he’s endorsed vodka, serves alcohol at his properties, and owns a winery in Virginia.

His sobriety, shaped by personal loss and fueled by competitiveness, continues to set him apart in the public eye.