Hoax – Videos claim that Pepsi is leaving the United States because of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump and that the company closed a deal with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to move its operations to the neighboring country.
Analysis
Since early 2025, a series of videos have circulated on social media claiming that Pepsi is abandoning the United States to set up its new operations base in Mexico. According to these posts, the reason would be economic tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, which allegedly angered the company. The content was initially spread by automated videos and later replicated by influencers who reinforced the theory of a supposed “corporate escape.”
These videos also claim that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a secret deal with Pepsi, granting an eight-year tax exemption and free access to the country’s infrastructure. The messages also suggest that Coca-Cola is preparing to follow the same path to Brazil and that Wall Street is in “panic.” Read the transcript of one of them:
Urgent. Pepsi is leaving the USA. And guess where it’s going? It’s official, Pepsi is leaving the United States, making Donald Trump furious, and has already made a shady deal with Mexico. What seemed impossible just happened. Pepsi began the process of withdrawing its main operations in the United States after new economic tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.
Some leaked documents show that Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico signed a secret deal with Pepsi, giving an eight-year tax exemption and access to federal infrastructure. Sources close to the National Palace say negotiations were brokered by trade groups linked to Asia and that there’s a bold plan to turn Mexico into Pepsi’s new global production and distribution base.
Meanwhile, Trump is freaking out, shouting betrayal at the White House, and Wall Street is in a panic fearing billions will be lost. And the craziest part—they say Coca-Cola is already eyeing Brazil so it won’t be left behind. Are the USA collapsing or is Mexico finally becoming a global powerhouse?
Fact-check
This content, in its various forms, spread widely on the internet. But it’s not true. To verify, let’s answer three main questions: 1) Is Pepsi really leaving the US because of Trump? 2) Did it recently close factories and does it still operate in the US? 3) Does this story follow the pattern of similar fake news?
Is Pepsi really leaving the US because of Trump?
No. This information is false. PepsiCo has not announced any mass departure from the United States nor linked its operations to recent political decisions by Donald Trump. This narrative is unfounded and appeared exclusively on social media, without official confirmation from any of the mentioned parties. The alleged deal with Claudia Sheinbaum, for example, is not present in any official channel of the Mexican government or PepsiCo.
Did Pepsi close any factories in the US and are there still factories in the country?
Yes, PepsiCo announced specific factory closures in the US in 2024, but for logistical and operational reasons. This does not represent abandonment of the country. The company still maintains more than 200 active operations in the US, including factories, distribution centers, and offices. In other words, PepsiCo’s base in the US remains solid and operational.
Are there similar fake news stories?
Yes. This story follows a recurring disinformation pattern in rumors that attempt to link large companies to Trump policies, suggesting retaliation or relocation to other countries. Similar cases have already been debunked, such as the rumor that Amazon left the US because of tariffs, that Ford suspended production in the US, or that FIFA canceled the 2026 World Cup in the US. The tactic often mixes well-known names, polarized politics, and catastrophic predictions to go viral.
Conclusion
The rumor that Pepsi is leaving the United States because of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump is false. The company continues to operate in the country with more than 200 active units and there is no indication of any deal with the Mexican government. The disinformation originated from automated videos and was boosted by influencers. It follows the same pattern as other economic fake news trying to link corporate decisions to political issues.
Fake news ❌
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