President Trump made a pledge to reduce prices during a recent speech aimed at McDonald’s owners, managers, and suppliers.
His address at the fast food chain’s Impact Summit in Washington, D.C., seemed to reflect worries about his economic policies as concerns about rising expenses intensified.
“Prices are going down,” he claimed confidently.
Trump elaborated on his investments and trade agreements, arguing that had he lost to former Vice President Kamala Harris, the nation’s economy would have spiraled into a “disaster,” potentially leading to bankruptcy.
“Let me tell you, no one has ever done what we’ve done in terms of pricing,” he asserted, adding, “We inherited a mess. We had the highest inflation in our country’s history…and now we have normal inflation.”
Inflation did increase to 3% in September, marking its highest level this year.
According to the well-known “Big Mac” index from The Economist, the price of McDonald’s iconic burger rose to $6.01 in July, up from $5.69 last year.
This price uptick stemmed from ground beef costs, which climbed to $6.32 in September, compared to $5.67 a year earlier, based on data from the St. Louis Fed.
Recently, the Trump administration lifted some import tariffs on beef, coffee, and tropical fruits in an effort to help with affordability issues.
Trump asserted that McDonald’s employees “know the people of our country better than anyone.” He mentioned that the CEO, Chris Kempczinski, informed him that “McDonald’s prices are going down, too.”
As he spoke on inflation, Trump said, “We’re keeping it low.” He added, “But I’m going to lower it a little bit. I’m looking for perfection.”
Addressing the audience, he called himself “one of our most loyal customers of all time,” expressing gratitude that he won the election.
In a lighthearted moment, he remarked on serving fries at a McDonald’s during the 2024 campaign, quipping, “He’s the first former McDonald’s french fry maker to become president of the United States.” He added, “It wasn’t that easy!” regarding his experience at the drive-thru.
He painted a picture of McDonald’s role in daily life, mentioning how they serve hot coffee early in the morning for construction workers and late-night meals for truck drivers.
In terms of his favorite menu item, he suggested the Filet-O-Fish, saying, “I like fish. You could use a little more tartar sauce.”
