Washington: President Donald Trump met on Monday with owners, operators and suppliers affiliated with fast-food giant McDonald’s in Washington, D.C., where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to bringing down consumer costs and boosting real wages though he offered no major new policy announcements.
Addressing business leaders in the McDonald’s network, Trump emphasized the progress his administration claims to have made in supporting small businesses and re-shoring manufacturing, arguing such steps will ultimately help lift Americans’ incomes and curb inflation. “As president, I’m fighting every day to support small businesses like yours,” he told attendees, adding: “There’s still a lot of work to do, and we’re making tremendous progress.”
Despite the cheerful tone, the backdrop remained sobering: inflation continues to bite, especially for lower- and middle-income households, and the president conceded that the benefits of his economic agenda may take time to materialize. “Costs have continued to rise in the U.S.,” he acknowledged, even as he reiterated his belief that inflation is lower today than during his predecessor’s term.
One of the more tangible shifts Trump announced: a reversal of duties on over 200 imported food items including bananas and coffee marking a pivot from his earlier tariff-heavy stance. The reversal acknowledges that some of his tariff policies may have contributed to rising consumer prices.
McDonald’s, whose leadership has frequently warned that inflation is squeezing lower-income consumers, was represented at the event by CEO Chris Kempczinski, who reiterated that food‐affordability remains a key issue. The company has responded by extending its value-meal offering to $5 as costs rise, a clear sign of how heavy inflationary pressure is on everyday consumers.
The meeting also had a political undertone: Trump plans to stage a series of public rallies in key battleground states ahead of next year’s midterms, focused heavily on his economic message. Officials say these events will allow him to present his agenda directly to voters in states where inflation and cost-of-living issues have eaten into his support.
While Trump declared assertively that the economy is improving under his watch, his remarks were judged by observers as heavy on rhetoric and light on new policy specifics. His claim of “tremendous progress” contrasted with broader data showing food prices, rent and other living costs still rising challenging the administration’s narrative of victory.
For McDonald’s franchisees and other small business participants, the message from the White House was clear: greater stability and cost-reduction remain lofty goals, but execution will require patience and further action. For the broader electorate, the meeting offered a glimpse of how the administration intends to frame its economic stewardship: promising relief but signaling that the difficult work remains ahead.