Exclusive: Trump to talk affordability at McDonald's summit
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President Trump greets a family dressed as workers at a McDonald's drive-through during a Halloween event at the White House last month. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP
President Trump will dial up his affordability message for an audience of McDonald's owners, operators and suppliers Monday evening, as part of an escalating White House push to take on Americans' economic worries.
- "The Biden administration started the affordability crisis, but President Trump will end it so all Americans can achieve economic prosperity," a White House official told me.
Why it matters: The cost of living was a winning message for Democrats in off-year elections earlier this month. And Republicans see new urgency on the issue as they turn to next year's midterms.
During remarks at an Impact Summit hosted in Washington by McDonald's, Trump is expected to tout steps he has taken to support small businesses and job creators.
- He'll talk about the tax cuts in his One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes "No Tax on Tips ... No Tax on Overtime ... No Tax on Social Security."
Context: Trump has floated a variety of ideas for lowering the cost of living, while insisting he's taming "Biden's inflation crisis." The prices of some staples are up, and polls show Americans worry about the economy.
The backdrop: A key message at the McDonald's summit will be that value and affordability are "so important to consumers and elected officials [that] our franchisees and company are co-investing to bring extra value and affordability to our customers," an official told me.
- Axios reported earlier this month that McDonald's is taking the rare step of footing part of the bill for its new Extra Value Meals to win back cash-strapped diners.
Democratic speakers at the bipartisan McDonald's summit include New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, former ambassador and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, and U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar of California.
- Summit attendees will be urged to "go on offense, engage and advocate for our system," the official said.
Across town this evening, General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja and General Catalyst Institute (GCI) President Teresa Carlson, at the inaugural "Summit on U.S. Resilience," will host House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.); Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; Patrick Witt, executive director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets; Rep. Rob Whitman (R-Va.); and several CEOs and co-founders.
Go deeper: McDonald's economic-impact report.
