President Donald Trump has positioned McDonald's Extra Value Meals as evidence his administration is making progress on lowering prices, using the fast-food giant's affordability initiatives to counter political pressure about rising costs.
Trump's Affordability Pitch to Franchise Owners
During an address Monday to McDonald's Corp franchise owners, Trump delivered what aides suggest will be the first of many speeches focusing on affordability concerns. The president specifically thanked the company for reintroducing Extra Value Meals at $5 and $8 price points, calling the move significant for American consumers.
"I want to give a very special thanks to McDonald's for slashing prices for your most popular items, bringing back Extra Value Meals," Trump told the gathering. He described himself as "one of your all-time most loyal customers" and praised the company's role in "getting prices down for this country."
Political Context and Recent Setbacks
The affordability push comes nearly two weeks after Republicans suffered prominent defeats in off-year state and local elections where cost-of-living concerns dominated voter priorities. Trump's remarks represent an effort to reclaim the affordability narrative from Democrats, who have blamed his tariff policies for contributing to persistent inflation.
"Affordable should be our word, not theirs," Trump asserted during his address. "Democrats get up and they talk about 'affordability,' 'affordable.' They don't say that they had the worst inflation in history, the highest energy prices in history, everything was the worst."
Administration Actions and Economic Measures
In recent days, the Trump administration has taken several steps addressing price pressures, including:
- Reducing tariffs on numerous food items including beef, tomatoes, coffee, bananas, fruits, nuts and juices
- Announcing agreements with several Latin American countries to lower costs of items not substantially produced in the United States
- Floating proposals for 50-year mortgages to ease monthly housing costs
- Considering direct $2,000 "dividend" payments to citizens from tariff revenues
Despite these measures, Trump advisers have consistently downplayed the impact of tariffs on consumer prices, even as last week's exemption of many agricultural imports from those levies appeared to acknowledge their contribution to price growth.
The event highlighted the ongoing challenge for Trump: convincing voters his administration is succeeding against high costs that have frustrated Americans for years, while maintaining tariff policies that most mainstream economists believe will worsen price growth.
McDonald's, with its extensive presence across the United States, serves as an important barometer for consumer spending, particularly among budget-sensitive customers. The company's decision to reintroduce value meals at specific price points reflects both competitive pressures and broader economic concerns affecting consumer behavior.
Trump's affinity for McDonald's is well-documented, and his administration is considering increased domestic travel to promote his economic agenda more directly to American voters in the coming months.
