Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has made headlines for its significant expenditure on fast food, with a breakdown of the costs recently revealed. Between January 2023 and September 20, 2024, the Republican nominee’s campaign reportedly spent a staggering $31,000 at McDonald’s, as per the Washington Post’s analysis of FEC filings. This amount accounted for 86 percent of all candidates’ spending at the popular fast-food chain during that timeframe.
It is no secret that Trump has a fondness for McDonald’s, with past reports indicating his go-to order of “two Big Macs, two Fillet-O-Fish, and a chocolate malt.” The former president’s affinity for the fast-food giant was further illustrated when he hosted Clemson University’s football team at the White House and served them McDonald’s amidst a government shutdown.
In addition to McDonald’s, the Republican campaigns splurged on other fast-food chains, such as Chick-Fil-A, with a total spend of $200,000, significantly surpassing the Democrats’ expenditure in this area. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris campaign allocated over $7,000 at Panera Bread, leading the list of fast-casual restaurants patronized by the Democratic team.
While Republicans dominated the spending at fast-food establishments, Democrats opted for food delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash, outspending the GOP by approximately $80,000 in this category. The analysis also highlighted a partisan preference for different cuisines, with Democrats favouring Mexican, Spanish, and Chinese food, while Republicans showed a penchant for BBQ, spending more than twice as much as Democrats.
Overall, the Washington Post’s review encompassed 21,000 receipts totalling $13 million, shedding light on the diverse dining habits of political campaigns across the aisle. The mention of fast-food chains like McDonald’s in the political sphere has even sparked debates, such as Trump’s skepticism regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s previous employment at McDonald’s, underscoring the intersection of fast food and politics.