Trump Highlights Iconic McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish

President Donald Trump is shining a light on one of McDonald’s classic offerings—the Filet-O-Fish sandwich.

During his recent speech at the company’s 2025 Impact Summit in Washington, D.C., he sparked discussions about this long-standing menu item, which originally launched as a Lenten special in the 1960s.

Trump, who has long been a fan of McDonald’s, praised the fish sandwich and threw in a few suggestions for enhancing it, although his affinity for the fast-food chain is nothing new; he has been vocal about it since his campaign in 2016.

After much anticipation, the McRib is also making a return to most McDonald’s menus.

Not too long ago, a photograph from 2024 showing Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr., Elon Musk, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. enjoying McDonald’s on Trump’s private plane went viral. The president’s meal included a Filet-O-Fish.

Interestingly, the sandwich’s history dates back to when Trump was still in high school.

The idea for the Filet-O-Fish came about in 1962 when Lou Groen, a franchise owner in Cincinnati, noticed a drop in sales on Fridays in Catholic neighborhoods. McDonald’s recognized the need for a fish sandwich to cater to those who abstain from meat during Lent.

Initially, even McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc was skeptical about the sandwich’s potential and instead proposed a Hula Burger, featuring grilled pineapple and cheese. They decided to trial both sandwiches on a Friday. Spoiler alert: the Filet-O-Fish outsold the Hula Burger dramatically, 350 to 6.

“Fred got a new suit and McDonald’s got a Filet-O-Fish,” recalled McDonald’s historian Mike Brinton.

In 1965, the Filet-O-Fish was officially added to the menu, priced at 29 cents, marking the company’s first non-hamburger sandwich option.

Lou Groen’s legacy continued long after his passing in 2011. His son reflected, “My father needed that fish sandwich to survive against competition.” He expressed disbelief at how impactful the Filet-O-Fish had been for McDonald’s and the American fishing industry.

McDonald’s has since become a leading purchaser of whitefish in the U.S. and has contributed to the rising demand for sustainably sourced walleye.

Notably, the Filet-O-Fish isn’t just a U.S. favorite; it has gained popularity worldwide, with locations offering unique variations, like wasabi in Asia and Old Bay tartar sauce in some U.S. spots.

Even as fans, including Trump, appreciate the sandwich’s rich history, they still have ideas for improvement.

Trump recently remarked, “I could use a little more tartar sauce, but please,” expressing a preference for extra sauce without the hassle of asking for it. Many social media users echoed similar sentiments, agreeing that the sandwich could be improved with more tartar sauce.

Meanwhile, some have questioned why the sandwich is only paired with half a slice of American cheese. Speculations about cost-cutting measures were met with McDonald’s clarification that this reflects Groen’s original recipe from back in 1962.

“The Filet-O-Fish always comes with half a slice of cheese,” they explained, adding that customers can request a full slice if they prefer.

Other creative hacks have surfaced over the years, with suggestions ranging from adding an extra fish patty for a better fish-to-bread ratio to even substituting tartar sauce with Big Mac sauce.

Fox News Digital has reached out to McDonald’s for a comment.