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Trump takes credit for Budweiser name change

by Jesse Byrnes - 05/11/16 7:35 AM ET

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump early Wednesday took credit for Anheuser-Busch rebranding its Budweiser beer as “America” for the summer.

“Mr. Trump, do you think you had something to do with Budweiser changing the name of their beer over the summer?” co-host Steve Doocy asked on “Fox and Friends,” mentioning Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

{mosads}”I think so. They’re so impressed with what our country will become that they decided to do this before the fact,” Trump responded during the phone interview.

Anheuser-Busch announced Tuesday that it will change the packaging for 12-ounce cans and bottles, replacing the “Budweiser” name with “America” and including other patriotic icons.

Exclusive: Budweiser renames its beer “America” https://t.co/UxVydjqTYh pic.twitter.com/U4I9T49HZh

— Co.Design (@FastCoDesign) May 10, 2016

The rebranded beer will hit store shelves on May 23 and stay through the November election, according to the company.

Ricardo Marques, a Budweiser executive, mentioned several upcoming sporting events in explaining why the company opted to change its packaging.

“We are embarking on what should be the most patriotic summer that this generation has ever seen, with Copa America Centenario being held on U.S. soil for the first time, Team USA competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said in a statement Tuesday, adding that Budweiser “has always strived to embody America in a bottle.”

Tags Beer Budweiser Donald Trump