President Donald Trump delivered a confident message to McDonald's Corp. (MCD) franchisees and suppliers Monday: you're welcome. Speaking at the McDonald's Impact Summit in Washington, Trump told the crowd they were "lucky" he won the 2024 election, warning that the alternative would have driven America toward bankruptcy.
Economic Disaster Averted, According to Trump
Trump painted a grim picture of what could have been under former Vice President Kamala Harris. Welfare rolls would have exploded, government jobs would have surged while "real jobs were going down," and the whole thing would have ended in catastrophe. "You probably would have had a bankrupt country," he told the audience, adding with a flourish: "You are so... lucky that I won that election, I'm telling you." The crowd reportedly laughed and applauded.
The victory lap comes at an awkward moment, though. Trump and Republicans are dealing with growing frustration over inflation that won't quit and a labor market that's starting to wobble.
The Numbers Tell a More Complex Story
Annual inflation hit 3% in September, which happens to be exactly where it was when Trump started his second term, according to the latest consumer price index data. Not exactly the dramatic improvement voters might have hoped for. Meanwhile, private sector job growth has stalled out completely. The most recent ADP report showed a net loss of 32,000 jobs in September, the worst reading in over two years.
Fast-food prices tell the consumer pain story pretty clearly. The Economist's Big Mac index pegged the average U.S. Big Mac at $6.01 in July, up from $5.69 a year earlier. Ground beef prices jumped to about $6.32 per pound in September from roughly $5.67 the year before, according to Federal Reserve data. When people are paying more for burgers, they notice.
Tariff Reversals and Campaign Nostalgia
Facing pressure from food inflation and fresh Democratic momentum in cost-of-living-focused races, the Trump administration rolled back tariffs last week on dozens of food imports. Beef, coffee, bananas, and other tropical products all got relief in an effort to bring prices down.
Trump, who's never been shy about his McDonald's fandom, reminded the summit crowd about his 2024 campaign stop where he worked the fry station at a Pennsylvania franchise. It was classic Trump: mixing policy talk with personal anecdotes and brand loyalty.
Price Action: McDonald's (MCD) shares closed down 0.69% on Monday at $304.90 and edged up 0.11% in after-hours trading. The stock shows favorable price trends across short, medium, and long-term timeframes, though its growth score remains average according to market rankings.