Paper straws are back in the spotlight — or rather, back in the trash — after President Donald Trump took a victory lap this week for what he calls a “common-sense” win: kicking paper straws to the curb.
Speaking in Florida, Trump didn’t hold back about his distaste for the soggy stand-ins. “I was tired of having straws melt in my mouth,” he said, adding that paper straws “weren’t working too well.” In February, Trump signed an executive order banning federal use of paper straws altogether, arguing they’re not only useless but ironically wrapped in plastic anyway.
The order claims paper straws are “nonfunctional,” costlier to produce, and come with potential health risks from chemicals used to treat the paper — all while doing little to actually help the environment.
One venue quick to toast the change? The Kennedy Center in D.C., which swapped its paper straws for sturdy plastic just in time for a Sunday showing of Les Misérables. Photos from the performance showed a proud sign by the counter: “STANDARD STRAWS NOW AVAILABLE!”
The shift has sparked cheers — and jeers — online. “Paper straws are trash,” declared one X user, while another fumed, “These stupid paper straws don’t work. I use at least 3 per drink and ingest one from the melted paper.”
While no federal ban exists on plastic straws, several cities like NYC and L.A. still restrict them unless requested. But for Trump, it’s a small stand for “common sense.” As he put it, “We solved so many problems people thought couldn’t be fixed — like straws melting in your mouth.”
