For years, Donald Trump folded processed meals into his larger-than-life persona, often reaching for cheeseburgers and fries whereas insisting—with out hesitation—that he’s bodily match and in “nice form.”
The distinction turns into tougher to disregard because the sheer scale of his fast-food routine comes again into focus. A behavior as soon as disregarded as a unusual indulgence is now considered as extreme, undercutting Trump’s health claims and turning his food regimen right into a legal responsibility.
Lengthy earlier than the previous actual property mogul ever stood behind a podium or boarded a marketing campaign airplane, McDonald’s had already secured a everlasting spot in his comfort-food rotation.
‘They All Look Fairly Scared’: Trump Kicked the Press Out, Then Bribed Them With Meals to Write a “Good” Story — Till the Leaked Menu Made It Really feel Nearly Insulting
For a era raised within the Eighties, the McDonald’s jingle lodged itself within the mind for good. Many years later, in keeping with a latest Wall Avenue Journal profile, it seems Trump by no means outgrew that period, nonetheless ordering the identical heavy signature meal as if the drive-thru by no means closed.
“Large Mac, Filet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries / Icy Coke, Thick Shake, Sundaes, and Apple Pies.”
In a bit headline “As Indicators of Getting old Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance,” three journalists element the president’s irritation with public give attention to his well being. The article notes that Trump, the oldest individual to imagine the presidency, maintains that his consuming habits are unchanged, at the same time as consideration swirls round bruising on his proper hand, moments of obvious fatigue, and visual swelling of his toes and ankles.
It framed his food regimen as a part of a long-standing sample slightly than a latest indulgence, pointing to a now-private 2025 “Chambers, Adjustments, & Conversations” interview with Joe Gruters, the place he described being surprised by Trump’s McDonald’s order whereas touring with him in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign.
Gruters, the Republican Nationwide Committee chairman, mentioned, “He had scorching fries ready for him from McDonald’s. Then he had a Filet-O-Fish, a Quarter Pounder, and a Large Mac, and I believe he mixed two of them.”
As soon as these specifics circulated, social media reacted instantly.
😉▼😉▼😉 pic.twitter.com/LhxuyEsC00
— Pier Walker (@walkthepier) January 1, 2026
Day by day Mai readers had a number of the most colourful feedback.
One commenter joked, “McD by no means molds as a result of it’s principally plastic….. that is why he’ll reside endlessly!”
One other added, “That’s disgusting. No marvel everybody says he smells so horrible and is severely overweight. Ha ha. Pig.”
A sharper response learn, “And he’s the one calling reporters ‘piggy.’ Takes one to know one.”
The irony is difficult to overlook. Donald Trump has a protracted historical past of mocking reporters and opponents over their weight, even calling some “piggy.” These insults now learn in a different way as the main target shifts to his personal fast-food habits, creating an uncomfortable distinction he can’t simply snort off.
Even Gavin Newsom has taken pictures at Trump’s consuming habits, utilizing a well-timed joke to flip the script and switch Trump’s food regimen—and health bravado—into a part of the punchline, additionally geared toward Pete Hegseth for publicly criticizing the U.S. army’s bodily health requirements.
Through the years, a number of celebrities have publicly mocked or claimed Trump smells dangerous, although just one has described a firsthand expertise. On the “Day by day Beast” podcast, author E. Jean Carroll mentioned, “He didn’t odor so good.”
Others have framed the declare as ridicule slightly than private reporting. Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger as soon as claimed that Trump had a noticeable and ugly odor.
I’ve at all times puzzled about that
— Yasmine Mary, ARNP-FNP-C 🇺🇸 🦅 (@yazzy1967) December 16, 2023
Comic Kathy Griffin, who spent a quick time with Trump whereas showing as a visitor on “The Apprentice,” shared the identical sentiment on “The Mary Trump Present.”
“Donald has a definite odor that doesn’t get sufficient press,” Griffin informed Trump’s niece, including that he smelled “like physique odor with form of like scented make-up merchandise.”
Relating to her time on the present, Griffin posted on X, “Oh, God, I used to be by no means contestant. Nonetheless, I did take part in two challenges. One I did due to my pricey departed, beloved Joan Rivers. The opposite one I did as a result of Trump paid me a bunch of cash to spend the day with Liza Minnelli and host a problem. Liza and I attempted to disregard him, however he does odor actually dangerous.”
Howard Stern, who as soon as socialized with Trump, has cracked that he seems “sweaty” and implied an disagreeable odor, and Chelsea Handler has echoed the chorus, quipping that he “seems like he smells dangerous.”
IT’S COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE TO SEE A FAT COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN THE HALLS OF THE WHITE HOUSE! pic.twitter.com/hZtRdJG8b7
— Governor Newsom Press Workplace (@GovPressOffice) September 30, 2025
Others pushed again on the Trump pile-on. One reader wrote, “I assume his medical doctors have suggested him to chop again on the ldl cholesterol packed/calorie jacked meals. And for all we all know, he has. He had a CT that confirmed no severe points together with his coronary arteries. Can we cease with all this medical detective foolishness now?”
One other defended him by saying, “He doesn’t drink, smoke or have any well being points, so go away him be. Additionally, have you ever seen how SMALL the meals gadgets at McDonalds have turn into? What he ordered is what any regular teenager would eat.”
Trump’s attachment to McDonald’s has been documented properly earlier than his present time period.
A 2016 CNN city corridor with Anderson Cooper provided an early glimpse into how Trump defended his fast-food habits, portraying them as predictable and managed slightly than indulgent. That framing resurfaced within the 2017 e book “Let Trump Be Trump,” the place former aides described journey days structured round sealed snacks and acquainted chains, revealing how consolation and routine quietly guided his consuming habits.
Former Trump marketing campaign officers David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski said within the e book, the previous actuality star as soon as ordered on the highway “two Large Macs, two Filet-O-Fish and a chocolate malted” and that, “on Trump Power One, there have been 4 main meals teams: McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Rooster, pizza and Eating regimen Coke,” in keeping with Individuals.
By the 2024 marketing campaign, Trump had leaned into that popularity slightly than away from it.
President-elect Donald Trump’s well being secretary decide, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was seen having fun with a McDonald’s meal with Trump simply days after each pledged to “make America wholesome once more.” The fast-food outing has sparked debate given their latest health-focused marketing campaign guarantees.… pic.twitter.com/YHMZAK5Y24
— The Finance 360 (@thefinance360) November 18, 2024
He staged a McDonald’s cease, labored the fry station, then joked about it publicly, turning model familiarity into political theater.
Then there may be his look on the McDonald’s Influence Summit in Washington, the place he spoke to firm leaders and franchise homeowners whereas weaving tales about marketing campaign journey and quick meals into his remarks.
