President Donald Trump announced Friday morning on Truth Social that he will reverse President Joe Biden’s push for paper straws, calling them ineffective and vowing a return to plastic.
“I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don’t work. BACK TO PLASTIC!” Trump declared.
This move is one of hundreds of executive orders Trump has issued since taking office, aimed at undoing Biden-era policies.
Remember: Paper straws contain MORE "forever chemicals" than plastic pic.twitter.com/hb6P2E3VzR
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) February 7, 2025
Biden’s executive order, Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities, was implemented in July 2024 as part of his broader climate agenda. The policy required all federal agencies to phase out plastic straws, cutlery, and single-use plastics, replacing them with biodegradable alternatives.
At the time, the White House defended the decision, stating:
“The President is committed to taking ambitious actions… to end plastic pollution and is calling upon the global community to do the same, with the goal to reduce the global production and consumption of virgin plastics.”
The Biden administration argued that plastic pollution is a major environmental issue, citing studies showing that plastic items—ranging from straws to fishing equipment—are among the most common pollutants in oceans, rivers, and the Great Lakes.
However, critics, including many Republicans, called the initiative “absurd,” arguing that paper straws dissolve quickly in liquid and are an ineffective substitute.
Trump’s stance on the issue appears to go beyond politics—he has long been vocal about his dislike of paper straws. As a well-known Diet Coke enthusiast, he even keeps a button in his office to summon his preferred soft drink on demand.
With his new executive order, Trump is making it clear: in his administration, convenience will take precedence over environmental symbolism.